Cdr Joseph L. Williams III

CDR Joseph L. Williams, III, U.S.N. (ret) of Venice, Florida, passed away on March 21, 2011. He was 87 years old. CDR Williams was born on October 19, 1923 in Buena Vista, Georgia, and grew up in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Plant High School and attended the George Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) for two years before receiving an appointment to the Naval Academy in 1943. Following graduation and commissioning in 1946, CDR Williams was ordered to the USS NOA (DD 841) and subsequently to flight training at Pensacola, Florida. CDR Williams was awarded the naval aviator wings upon completion of flight training at Corpus Christi, Texas in 1949. Following flight training CDR Williams served with Air Anti-submarine Squadron Twenty-Two in Norfolk, Virginia as Line Maintenance Officer, Material Officer and Training Officer. In 1952 he returned to the Naval Air Basic Training Command in Pensacola for instructor duty. Subsequent tours of duty were with Air Transport Squadron Twenty-Three as Carrier On-board Delivery Pilot, Air Development Squadron One as project pilot and Officer Candidate School, as Battalion Officer. In 1960 CDR Williams was accepted to the Naval Management School in Monterrey, California where he received a master’s degree in management in 1961 and then reported to the Naval Station, Kodiak, Alaska as Comptroller. He subsequently served as Comptroller and Executive Officer at the Naval Avionics Facility in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1963 to 1965, and assumed the duties of Commanding Officer, Naval Advanced Undersea Weapons School in Key West, Florida, in 1966. His last assignment was as Administrative Officer at Naval Air Station, Glynco, Georgia, in 1969. CDR Williams retired from the U.S. Navy in 1972 after 26 years of service, first to Yatesville, Georgia, where he operated and managed the family pecan farm, and then, in 1980, to Venice, Florida. CDR Williams was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and an avid golfer, boater, fisherman, and fan of all levels of football. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lillian (“Ninon”); a son, Joseph L. Williams, IV of Tallahassee, Florida, a daughter, Lisa Sawhill of Athens, Georgia, and his first cousin, Burton Wight of Buena Vista, Georgia. He also leaves behind three grandchildren: Katie, Jeff, and Chris Sawhill. A funeral service will be held at 3:00PM on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Venice. Burial will take place in Buena Vista, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to TideWell Hospice, Inc., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34238. Farley Funeral Home of Venice, Florida is handling the arrangements.