Mr. John Duncan Williams Jr.'s Obituary
John Duncan Williams, Jr., 98, recently of Friendswood, Texas, died March 2, 2013, peacefully at Friendswood Health Care Center where he was lovingly cared for by their wonderful staff. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 31, 1914, to Leah Lawyer and John Duncan Williams, Sr. He was the oldest of five children. Growing up in Chicago, he attended Senn High School and Sullivan High School. Apprenticed to a Chicago commercial photographer, he learned the art of photography. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a still photographer. He went overseas in 1942 to Ascension Island in the south Atlantic Ocean and remained there for two years. In 1943, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force and became a still and aerial photographer. Returning to the United States in 1944, he served as a photographic instructor for a time with the Photographic School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. He was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945, with the rank of Sergeant. He married Miriam Hope Nelson in September, 1945, in Denver, Colorado and then back to Chicago where he resumed his position as a commercial photographer. He applied for and received a position with U.S. Civil Service in the Philippine Islands as a still photographer. Miriam joined him in the Philippine Islands later and their son, John Duncan Williams, III, was born there. Returning to the United States a few years later, he again applied for and received a position with the U.S. Civil Service, working with NASA, and later with the U.S. Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He rejoined NASA at Langley Field in Virginia and thence to the Manned Spacecraft Center at Houston, TX. While working at NASA, he and family resided in Pearland, TX. He remained with NASA in Houston until his retirement on December 31, 1974. He and Miriam then retired to Hemphill, Texas and Toledo Bend Lake. After ten years there, they moved to Canon City, Colorado and enjoyed retirement there for about seventeen years before returning to Houston, Texas to be close to family and very recently moved to Friendswood, Texas. Dunc enjoyed fishing, boating, working with electronics, photography, video and audio taping, woodworking, home repairs and many do-it-yourself projects. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Leah Lawyer & John Duncan Williams, Sr.; his sister, Virginia Williams; his brothers, Charles Williams and Robert Williams, and his grandson, Scott Duncan Williams. He is survived by his wife, Miriam Williams; his son, John Duncan Williams, III; his daughter-in-law, Jackie C. Williams; his granddaughter, Holly Williams Lyons, and her husband, John Lyons. He is also survived by his brother, James Williams. He was affectionately known as PawPaw to his great grandchildren: Jackson Lyons, Abigail Lyons and William Lyons. A visitation with family will be held Wednesday, March 6, 2013 from 5pm-7 pm at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland, TX. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:30 pm at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland, TX, with Pastor Joe Gonzales. In lieu of flowers, you may send memorials to his church: El Cordero De Dios Templo Cristiano,
12515 Astoria Blvd., Houston, TX 77089.
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