Floyd Williams, Jr. |
| Posted 2008-12-15 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, August 8, 2004 Floyd Williams, Jr., passed away on August 3, 2004. He was born in Prescott, Arizona, on March 8, 1916 to Floyd Williams, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, who went to sea on clipper ships at the age of ten, and Nellie May (Roberts) Williams, whose family came to Prescott from Wales when her father was nine years old, and where she was born in 1894. His father was a Ford dealer in Prescott and served as a Commissioner on the first Arizona Highway Commission. He attended Lincoln and Washington Elementary schools and graduated from Prescott High School in 1934 where he was a member of Demolay, a four-year letterman in three sports, and Student Body President. He attended the University of Arizona where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Upsilon Alpha Chapter. He helped his father in the family business', including the building of the Hassayampa Hotel and the Verde Hot Springs Hotel on the Verde River. He joined the Prescott Kiwanis Club in 1940, enlisted in the US Army in 1941, and served his basic training in a tent city on the outskirts of Tucson in a "calvary" unit with artillery from WWI. He transferred to a chemical warfare company and left New York on the Queen Mary for England three months later. He went to OCS to Shrivenham, England and then was posted to the 876th Chemical Co., Sta. III AC, 306th Bomb Group, 8th Army Air Force. He was a squadron adjutant and later became a Group Adjutant. During most of his four years overseas, his CCo was stationed at Thurleigh Air Force Base near Bedford, England, and included both British and American personnel. He was discharged in 1946 at Ft. Bliss, and became a Reserve Officer with the rank of Captain in Phoenix where his parents and sister were living. He returned to the automobile business with Ed Spear until his appointment as Superintendent Public Bldgs. Maintenance, for a five-year term, and served consecutive terms under five Governors. The Prescott Kiwanis Club sponsored the Valley of the Sun Kiwanis Club in 1947 and he was a charter member and remained a member until his demise. He became District Secretary of the Southwest District, Kiwanis International, comprising Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, in 1956 and retired as Secretary Emeritus in 1985. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of his Club from 1979 to 1999. He was an expert marksman and horseman, and loved hunting, fishing and traveling. He was six times a director of United Fund and a key member of the committee that planned for the erection of the Community Service Building at 1515 E. Osborn. He also served as a Director on the Board of Boy Scouts of America, Roosevelt Council, the Crittendon Home, and many others. He will be greatly missed for his deep commitment to his family, the community and the State. His survivors include his wife, Marjorie Welker Williams, also of a pioneer family, born in Phoenix and residing in Phoenix; his sister, Doris Ray Gaffney (Phil), and nephews Brady and Randy Vogel (Frieda) of Scottsdale; his children and grandchildren, Lynn, of Dallas, Texas, Jon-Michael, Chas and Max; Kenneth (Diane) of Phoenix, Dax, CK (Sue), and Mick; Laurie (Cindy) of Renton, Washington, Jennifer, Kelly and Ryan; Floyd Williams, III (Kim) of Berkeley, California, Chandler and Avery; and great-grandchildren Tyler, Rose and Ethan. Visitation Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 West Thunderbird, Phoenix, and Wednesday, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Heritage Memory Mortuary, Prescott. The military service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, Prescott, at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 12th. |
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