John Howard Williams Jr.
b. 28 July 1928, d. 1 April 2014
- Father: John Howard Williams b. 3 July 1894, d. 20 April 1958
- Mother: Floy Ettys Kelly b. 10 January 1898, d. 9 September 1991
- John Howard Williams Jr. was born on 28 July 1928 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.
- He was known as Howard.
- John Howard Williams and Floy Ettys Kelly appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, at 116 North 15th Street. Other members of the household included John Howard Williams Jr.
- John Howard Williams and Floy Ettys Kelly appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, at 2010 Polk Street. Other members of the household included John Howard Williams Jr.. In 1935 the family was living in Dallas.
- The following appeared on 15 July 1949 in The Dallas Morning News: Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Eastland of Oklahoma City, Okla., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Sue Eastland, to J. Howard Williams Jr., son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Howard Williams, 5647 Swiss, formerly of Oklahoma City.
Williams will officiate at the ceremony Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City.
The bride-elect attended Christian College and the University of Oklahoma, where she was affiliated with Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Her fiance, a former student of Oklahoma Baptist University and Baylor University, received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma in June. His fraternity is Delta Upsilon. - He married Mary Sue Eastland, daughter of William Edgar Eastland and Sue Wheeler Kenyon, on 20 August 1949 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, at First Baptist Church, with the bridegroom's father, Dr. J. Howard Williams, officiating.
- The following appeared on 21 August 1949 in The Dallas Morning News: Miss Sue Eastland, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Eastland of Oklahoma City, was married Saturday evening to J. Howard Williams Jr., son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Howard Williams, 5647 Swiss.
The bridegroom's father read the service at the First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, assisted by Dr. Hershal H. Hobbs.
The bride was given in marriage by her father and wore. . . .
Miss Pat Pallady of Oklahoma City was maid of honor, and bridesmaids were Miss Shirley Enders and Miss Carolyn Sullivan, both of Oklahoma City, and Miss Betty Loranger of Tulsa, Okla. Miss Kate Williams, the bridegroom's sister, lighted the candles. Dan Williams, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man, and ushers included Frank Sandford and Fred Rutherford, both of Oklahoma City Jack Heidbrink, Clarance Aubrey of Lawton, Okla., and Wayne Miller of Norman, Okla.
Music was given by Dick Tumilty and Mrs. Willa Maude Harris.
Mrs. Frank Sandford registered guests during a reception at the home of the bride's parents. Also assisting were Misses Georgianna Mitchell, Betty Phillips, Bobbie Fawks, Barbara Bradford, Susanne Abbott and Irene Braden.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams will live in Houston. . . .
The bridegroom attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla., and Baylor University, and was graduated from the University of Oklahoma. His fraternity is Delta Upsilon. His bride attended Christian College, Columbia, Mo., and the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Dallas guests at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jer4nigan, Miss Mary Jo Ellis, Miss Beth Crutchfield and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Marshall. - The following appeared on 24 July 1966 in The Galveston News: The Howard Williams family of Houston cleared the Galveston Yacht Basin Saturday on the start of a sailboat cruise that will carry them around the world.
The 38-year-old Williams, his wife Sue and children Jay (14), Larry (12) and Susie (9) anticipate it will take a year to make the around the world cruise on their 35-foot sailing yawl Rebel.
Actually departure time for the cruise had been set for Friday but a malfunction of the boat's air conditioning system caused the delay.
Williams is a veteran of 17 years of sailboat experience. An accomplished sailboat racer, he has a roomful fo trophies to prove his skill.
The entire Williams family, in fact, is skilled in the art of sailing as Williams has spent many hours teaching the skill to his wife and three children.
When at sea each member of the family will have a specific chore to handle.
The Rebel is equipped with air conditioning, short-wave radio, auxiliary power and medical supplies. It is fully provisioned to permit the family to remain at sea as long as two weeks before putting into port.
Williams has sold his business (Rebel Towing Co.), cars and furniture in preparation for the trip. He still has his home in Houston up for sale.
New Orleans will be the first stop on the world cruise. Then the Williams will proceed to Biloxi, Miss., Florida, the Bahamas and expect to be in the Caribbean area for Christmas.
Education of the Williams children will not go neglected. They will continue their studies aboard ship through the Calvert system of correspondence courses. - J. Howard Williams was the author of Love at First Sight: A Lifetime of Sailing on Galveston Bay, published in 2005. And in 2007, his novel Blue Lady was published by America Star Books.
- John Howard Williams Jr. became a widower at the 1 April 2011 death of his wife Mary Sue Eastland.
- John Howard Williams Jr. died on 1 April 2014 at age 85 in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas.
- The following was published online by his family: A sailor and adventurer is gone. A man who grabbed life with both hands has let go his grip. J. Howard Williams, Jr. died at his home in Georgetown, TX on April 1, 2014 after a long battle with cancer.
Howard was born on July 28, 1928 to Dr. J. Howard Williams Sr. and Floy (Kelly) Williams in Corsicana, TX. He is survived by his wife, Ann Williams, his three children, J. H. (Jay) Williams III, Larry Williams and Susan Williams and by three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Kelly Dan Williams and his sister Floy Kate Woodruff.
He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years Sue (Eastland) Williams, his parents and two sisters, Martha Gene Sanford and Carolyn Mason.
Howard graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in accounting. He and Sue married and moved to Houston in 1949 where Howard started his career as a CPA. After a few years with Price Waterhouse, he became the comptroller of a tug and barge firm. He then became the managing partner of Rebel Towing Company. After the business was sold in 1965, Howard embarked on the first of several retirements.
In 1966, Howard, Sue and their three children (ages 14, 12 and 9), lived on their 35-foot sailboat “Rebel” and for a year, explored the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Bahamas. Upon their return, they settled in the Clear Lake area near Houston. Howard became the General Manager of Seabrook Shipyard on Galveston Bay. In the early 1980’s he managed Starboard Yachts, a sailboat importer until his final retirement in 1986.
After raising the children, Howard and Sue’s wander lust continued with multiple trailer treks throughout North America and several extended journeys on their sailboats. The climax was a multiyear excursion aboard “Blue Lady”, a 52-foot sailboat, throughout the Bahamas and the East Coast to Cape Cod, including the centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor in 1986.
Howard and Ann (Warren) Williams had a brief, but wonderful marriage. Ann became Howard’s constant companion and, over the last few months, his loving caregiver.
A visitation/viewing with family and friends will be at 2:30 Saturday, April 5, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Georgetown. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 with Dr. David Griffin officiating. Burial will follow at I.O.O.F Cemetery in Georgetown.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials in Howard’s memory be made to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 22000, Ft Worth, TX 76122.
- Last Edited: 6 Apr 2014