Roy E. Williams

Captain Roy E. Williams died in Denver Memorial Day, May 30, 2007. He was 84. His life was devoted to his Navy, his church and his family. Roy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1947 with a degree in Business Administration and Economics and continued on active duty serving in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In 1959 he transferred to the USN Reserve where he became a Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Center in San Diego. He wears the following medals and campaign ribbons: Navy Good Conduct, American Campaign, World War II Victory, Navy Occupation Service, National Defense Service, Korean Service with Three Combat Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Armed Forces Reserve with Hour Glass, Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation and the United Nations Service Medal all of which were earned on active duty. He transferred to the retired list in October 1982 but actively continued his service in the Naval Reserve Association. In civilian life he was an insurance man, Certified Life Underwriter and financial planner. He was a member of St John of the Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove, California for more than 50 years. He was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers in the parish, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, was for many years the head of St. John's Catholic Youth Organization and the parish festival fundraiser. If the church needed a volunteer he was there. In his free time you could find him behind the lens of a camera, the wheel of a car, on the dance floor or in a restaurant. He loved to go. In San Diego Roy leaves behind a son Ed, who followed his dad into the financial planning field, a daughter-in-law, Peggy, a teacher; a grandson, Shaeler, a published author and poet; and a granddaughter Miranda, a psychologist. He also leaves in San Diego many friends including Margie Long, his dearest. In Denver, where Roy spent his last few years he leaves his daughter Mary, a retired consultant/private investigator; a son-in-law, Rick, an attorney; and a granddaughter Mary Catherine, a screenwriter and NYU student in the fall. In Denver he also leaves many friends including Don Weiman and the girls with whom he shared many good times in the past few years. He leaves a sister, Gloria and brother-in-law, Bobby, in Florida; and a sister, Mary, in Colorado. To the end he maintained his charm, dignity and humor. He never lost the memory of his family or friends. He will now join Mary, our Irish mother and his biggest fan, who so many years ago fell for the handsome sailor stumbling up the stairs of the USO and demanded to know his name. The rest is our rich, colorful, wacky history. He was the luckiest man alive. He was the Captain and he will be missed. Plans for a memorial service in San Diego are pending.