Bill Allen Williams

Bill was born in Watertown, SD, to Eva and Dwight Williams on August 9, 1932. The family moved to Eugene Oregon in 1940. Bill graduated from Hill Military Academy, Portland, Oregon in 1952. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force and in 1955 married his high school sweet heart, Jean Messner, their daughter was born in 1956. During the course of his Air Force career the family traveled and lived in many different places including 3 years in Spain and Italy. After retirement from the Air Force in 1974 Bill and Jean lived in Mountain Home, Idaho. Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing in Idaho and was the proprietor of an Upholstery Business. He and Jean later moved to Tacoma, WA for an employment opportunity to work Civil Service at McCord AFB where he stayed until his retirement in 1990. After retirement, Jean and Bill continued to travel in and out of the US. Some of their more memorable trips were Australia, New Zealand, Asia and 2 summer-long cross country US trips. Bill loved the people and culture of all the countries he and Jean visited and his humor and warmth has made friends in all parts of the world. Bill loved to work with his hands in word carving, cabinetry and painting. Bill loved the outdoors and wouldn't turn down an opportunity to fish or crab either in Puget Sound with Pete the Crab King or in Alaska with is nephew Brien. Over the years he and Jean spent time scuba diving with Terri and Scott, boating in Puget Sound and even got talked into kayaking with his daughter and family. With all these passions Bill was never more in his element than when he and Jean took their annual trip to Hawaii where they relaxed and enjoyed each other's company, the trade winds blowing through their hair and sand between their toes. Bill has left a legacy of humor, jokes, and true friendships to those he has meet and have had the fortune to become a part of his life. One did not know Bill without having heard at least one or two jokes or have been teased into believing one or two of his tall tales. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years Jean, his daughter Debra Howell, son-in-law, Brant, two grandsons, Jacob and Tayler and his brother Don Williams and wife Connie. He leaves dear friends who are extended family in Terri and Scott Bennett, George and Leah Petre, Margaret Williams, Susie and Al Garcia and Nadine and Paul Rushfeldt to name a few. There will be internment at the Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 Southeast 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042- 4868 on June 10, 2011 at 10:15am. A celebration of his live will immediately follow at their home in Tacoma. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in Bill's name to either Franciscan Hospice at http://www.fhshealth.org/Ways_Give.aspx?id=3060&menu_id=322 or to the Amlyloidosis Foundation at http://www.amyloidosis.org/default.asp