June 18, 2008

  • The obituary I sent the Washington Post

    They edited out a bit, including one of the best lines, but here is what I sent the Post.

    david byron williams

    David Byron Williams
    local builder, volunteer

    David
    Byron Williams, 81, builder of many homes and apartments in Northern
    Virginia, died from complications of diabetes at Reston Hospital ICU on
    May 29th.

    Mr. Williams was born and raised in Martins Ferry,
    Ohio. He entered the Navy at age 17 to fight in World War II, serving
    in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. He received a Purple Heart
    and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism when saving his ship
    from a faulty depth charge. He was on the USS Pope when she received a
    Presidential Unit Citation for participating in the capture of U-505,
    the first capture of a naval enemy vessel since 1815. The captured
    submarine is on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
    He fought at Normady, and later served during the Korean
    War.

    After
    WW2, he married Mary Leatrice Roy of Mobile Alabama. There he worked
    several jobs while raising twin daughters and going to Spring Hill
    College as part of the Fulbright Program. He studied accounting, and moved back to Ohio when his first marriage ended.

    He
    married Barbara Anne Herget in 1960 and moved to the Washington DC
    area. They briefly relocated to Alabama and then Michigan, but moved
    to Vienna in 1973 and have lived in Fairfax County ever since. Here,
    his career turned to building construction, where he worked for several
    companies including Miller and Smith, and finally for himself. He
    built many homes, businesses, and apartments in the Northern Virginia
    area, including a Gino's Pizza, and the Circle Woods town home
    development in Fairfax.

    They
    became Christians and joined Christian Assembly Center of Vienna in
    1976, later moving to Shepherd Gate of Chantilly in 1986. Mr. Williams
    dedicated most of his last 22 years to serving at Shepherd Gate. He
    was a one time deacon, frequent volunteer, and "surrogate father" to
    many of the congregation there. In recent years he has used his
    accounting background to volunteer with the African Assistance Plan, http://www.africaassistanceplan.org , a ministry serving the nation of Ghana.

    He
    is survived by his ex-wife Mary Leatrice Roy of Mobile Alabama, his
    wife Barbara Anne Herget of Reston, twin daughters Mary Davette Schurr
    and Leatrice Davida Weindel of Mobile, son David Stephen Williams of
    Mobile, son Trevor Owen Williams of Herndon, daughter Pamela Dee
    Williams of Herndon, four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.