Donald E Williams
Donald Eugene Williams, 90, a La Canada Flintridge resident for 60 years passed away on October 22, 2022. He was born in 1932 in Wabash, Indiana. From a young age, Don was devoted to God, Family and Basketball and, he always had a quick joke ready for any occasion. Don fell in love with his high school sweetheart Joan Beamer, and they were married at Keesler Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi.
As a devout Christian, Don read the bible and prayed daily. He was happily married to his wife Joan for over 71 years. Don and Joan along with their three children (Christi, Daniel, and David), moved to La Canada in 1963. Together, Don and Joan have eight grandchildren (Robert, Donald, Marie, Amber, Anne, Emily, Kailani and Kalena), and 13 great-grandchildren.
Born in Fulton County, Indiana, Don was an exceptional athlete and a great basketball player at Wabash High School. He spent 4 years serving in the F-86 Squadron of the US Air Force during the Korean War. Afterwards, Don attended Indiana Tech University where he was MVP of the basketball team and received his degree in Electrical Engineering. Later, he received his MBA from Pepperdine University. Don also loved to run, and he competed in numerous 10k races, on company softball teams, and he also golfed regularly with his good friends.
Don Williams enjoyed a rewarding career in the aerospace industry during the golden age of space exploration. Don was a Sales and Marketing Director for local manufacturing firms that had parts on commercial airlines and on numerous space missions to the moon and beyond. During his career, he had parts on the Atlas (America’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), and the six NASA missions which landed humans on the moon beginning with the Apollo 11. In addition, Don worked with US airline manufactures and had parts on the supersonic Concorde and numerous military and commercial airplanes and helicopters.
In 1981, Don became a member of the La Canada Presbyterian Church where he was a Deacon, and Elder and sang in the Chancel Choir for over 41 years. He also performed with the Towne Singers at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Memorial gifts in Don’s name may be made to:
LCPC Chancel Choir 626 Foothill Blvd, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011.
Don was a world traveler. He visited Australia, Canada, England, Ecuador, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland. In 1976, Don and Joan purchased a beach home in Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico. They spent most holidays and vacation time at “Popotla” where they could relax and enjoy a run or walk on the white sandy beach with the entire family.
Don also served as a volunteer Sherriff at the Crescenta Valley Station. After retirement, Don and his wife Joan delivered cars to movie stars and entertainment celebrities for JSB Motors in La Canada. A memorial service for Don is scheduled at La Canada Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, at 3:30pm
