Please enter a minimum of 2 characters to search.
Share
John "Jack" Knowlton Williams
January 1st, 1936 - January 12th, 2025
The Williams family is sad to share that our father, husband, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and good friend, John Knowlton Williams (Jack), passed away at his home in Lacey, Washington on Sunday, January 12, 2025. He was surrounded in his final hours by his loving wife Sandra Lee Atkinson (Sandy), four sons, two daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters, while many more were able to share their love and affections by phone and online.
Jack is survived by Sandy, his wife of 40 years, his sister, Louise Morgan, sons, Michael (Carrie), Steve, John (G), and Greg (Kate), eleven grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ray, brother-in-law Jim, brother and sister-in-law Steve and Linda Dimitroff, and ex-wife Jacqueline.
Jack was devoted to his family and spent many years as cubmaster, assistant scoutmaster, coaching little league, volunteering for many civic and service organizations, and providing support and guidance to his sons and grandchildren.
Jack was commended by the California legislature when he retired after 41.5 years of loyal service to the State of California and eight years as a member of the California Air National Guard. Most of his career was spent with Employment Development Department, where he worked feverishly to help people who were out of work. He described responding to a major flood in northern California in 1964, where he and others flew small planes into remote locations, “landed in a cow pasture and carried claim records on our backs to the church or school building where we paid the claims”.
“People were being fed and sheltered by social agencies before we arrived to disperse unemployment insurance funds, but they had no money and no choices. The unemployment insurance funds gave them back their dignity, gave them choices and allowed them to purchase their own necessities of life.”
After retirement, Jack and Sandy traveled extensively through Europe, and then moved to the island of Kauai in Hawaii, where he volunteered as a docent for the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai. As an avid hiker and backpacker, Dad volunteered for many civic and service organizations, including the Sierra Club Inner-City Outings, where he led disadvantaged youths on camping trips to give them an appreciation for the outdoors.
Jack was plain-spoken and brutally honest, with a dry humor and incisive wit that many people didn’t pick up on. He was generous and kind and had a special affection for his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their families. He believed in the basic goodness of people, and in giving every person a fair chance based on their character or ability. He demonstrated that same model of behavior when it came to the treatment of people from different races, sexual orientations, gender, or socioeconomic level.
He will be sorely missed, but it is comforting to know that he is no longer in pain and unable to perform simple physical tasks after many years of running, hiking, and backpacking. Jack leaves behind a legacy as a wonderful grandpa, dad, husband, brother, and friend to many.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Jack on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at noon online via Zoom. Because Jack's friends and family are spread throughout the country, as well as abroad, we wished to afford the greatest number of people who knew and loved him to participate.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Sierra Club, the National Tropical Botanical Garden of Kauai, or to your favorite charity.
Donations
Honor John Williams's memory by donating to a cause they cared about. Powered by Pledge, every donation counts. Click here to see their names and join this growing community of supporters
Sympathy Gift Ideas
Loading widget...
We Entrusted John Williams's Care To
Funeral Alternatives of Washington - Tumwater
In Tumwater, Funeral Alternatives of Washington stands as a beacon of compassion and personalization in funeral services, offering the community thoughtful and customized arrangements that honor the memory of their loved ones. We pride ourselves on providing services that reflect the individuality of each person we commemorate, ensuring that every aspect of the funeral or cremation planning is aligned with the family's wishes and budget. Our dedicated team in Tumwater takes the time to understand your preferences, assisting with everything from catering coordination to creating personalized memorial items. We manage the logistical details so you can focus on what matters most: honoring the life and legacy of your loved one....
Learn more(360) 523-2489
Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor John’s life with a heartfelt message.
Posting as
Guest
Not sure what to say?
Answer a question
Ways you can honor John's memory:
Customize Cookie Preferences
We use cookies to enhance browsing experience serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking 'Accept All', you consent to our use of cookies. Learn more on our Privacy Page