James Franklin Williams Jr.

James Franklin Williams Jr., 80 passed away on St. Davids Day, March 1, 2008 in Orlando, FL. He was born in Anapolis, MD to James and Margaret Wahab Williams on July 20, 1927. His maternal grandfather was Henry Wahab USN (Ret), Chief Wahab has the distinction of having served aboard the USS HOLLAND, the Navy's FIRST submarine commissioned in 1900 and firing the first torpedo from that submarine.

A true patriot, Jim enlisted in the US Navy right out of high school . During WWII duty took him aboard the USS DAMATO (DD871), USS WITEK (DD848) and the USS JACK WILKE (DE800) and he was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal along with Honorable Service and Good Conduct Medals. Following his military service he was employed by the FAA retiring after 36 years in 1982.

A loving and devoted husband, he is survived by his beloved wife Margaret Joyce Vaughan Williams and his many children, Margaret Williams, Patricia Foppiano, James Williams III, Beatrice Franqui, Geraldine Groenert, Caroline Schwein, David Vaughan, Richard Vaughan and Geoffrey Vaughan. He will be greatly missed by his sisters, Margaret Jordan, Joan Sparks and brother, David Williams. He leaves 7 grandchildren, David, Caroline, Jake, Chris, Nick, Stephanie and Casey and 2 great grandchildren, Katherine and Sam.

Memorial services with full Military Honors will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 15, 2008 in the chapel of Newcomer Funeral Home, 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando. 407-277-4227. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to the Heart Disease Research Foundation, National Office, 50 Court Street-306A, Brooklyn, NY 11201-4801 or to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 or diabetes.org/honor.

A man of the MIND, Jim was an avid reader and he instilled the love of books in all of his children. He touched our lives, challenged our minds and will forever remain in our hearts. We wish him "Fair Winds and Following Seas."