Obituary of Col. (Ret.) Peter Dudley Williams

Col. (Ret.) Peter Dudley Williams

Peter D. Williams was born in 1932 in Santa Monica, CA. He died at the age of 87 in The Villages, FL, after a long, fulfilling, and adventurous life.

Following two years of study at Orange Coast Community College, Pete joined the US Air Force in 1952 and became a fighter pilot. He flew a variety of aircraft in his 32-year career, and the F-106 was his favorite. Serving his country, Pete and his family, which included his wife LaVerne and three daughters, were stationed throughout the US and in Germany and Norway. Pete was deployed to Korea, Thailand, and South Vietnam. He earned the Bronze Star and four Distinguished Flying Crosses prior to his retirement in Washington State, where he spent 30 years. For 11 of those, he worked for Boeing in the role of systems analyst and liaison to the Air Force.

Pete was a natural athlete, starting with his days surfing and as a lifeguard in Laguna Beach, CA. He discovered a passion for golf as a young adult and continued to play throughout his life. He was a bowler and a skier, both on snow and water. He loved the water, and during his time in Washington, he and LaVerne could often be found on their boat “Sierra Hotel” or at events with the Tacoma Yacht Club. For a number of years, he was also active on the Steilacoom town council. A devout Catholic, Pete served his church in both Steilacoom and The Villages.

He was married for 59 years until LaVerne passed in 2017. Pete considered himself blessed to have then been engaged to Carolyn Bradley, also of The Villages, whom he often described as the “light of his life.” He is survived by his sister, Valerie Lee of Mashpee, MA, and his daughters Stacey (Stace) Williams, of Denver, CO, Leslie (Lee) Williams and Janet Griffin, both of Winter Springs, FL, as well as granddaughters Rachel, Emily, and Anne. All of them and his many friends, locally and throughout the US, will miss Pete and his vibrant energy and sense of humor.

Services will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake, FL. A celebration of life brunch will follow from 10:00 am to noon at Rohan Recreation Center, 850 Kristine Way, Wildwood, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (www.dvnf.org) or the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).