Gary L. Williams

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Lee Williams was called home to his heavenly father on 10 September 2018. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his beloved wife Jacquelyn of 47 years, his children Shannon Rodriguez and husband Conrad of Las Cruces, Katrina Graham and husband Joaquin of Las Cruces, Mark Williams and wife Sarah of Pocatello, ID, Jessica Smith and husband Jess of Las Cruces, Micah Williams and partner Ben Elizaldez of Las Cruces, and Rachel Williams of Las Cruces, and 14 grandchildren, his sisters Cecilia Ferrin of Phoenix, AZ and Linda Gannon of Prescott, AZ. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Pauline Williams, and brother Robert Dee Williams. Gary was born to Robert E. Lee and Pauline Phillips Williams on 26 June 1945 in Phoenix, AZ. He attended Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, AZ and completed a Bachelor of Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A veteran of the Vietnam war, he served his country proudly in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S Army. LTC Williams was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross (4), and Bronze Star, among many other awards and honors. He served two combat tours in Vietnam flying helicopter gunships and went on to have a distinguished military career as both a flight instructor and aviation logistician. He served multiple assignment in the United States and overseas in Germany and South Korea. He retired to Las Cruces, NM in 1989 where he continued to pursue advanced degrees in Counseling and Education at New Mexico State University. Gary was a dedicated member to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and fulfilled many roles including Bishop, Counselor, High Councilman, Auxiliary Leadership, and Boy Scout Leader over his lifetime, and Director of the local area Bishop's Storehouse for the past 23 years. Gary participated in a variety of Veteran's organizations including the El Paso VA healthcare system as a peer mentor, the Purple Heart Society, the American Legion, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Memorial services are scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Idaho Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (2915 E. Idaho Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88001). A Military Honors ceremony will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in the East Shelter (5200 Fred Wilson Blvd., El Paso, TX 79906). Memorial contributions can be made to the Lustgarten Foundation: Pancreatic Cancer Research (lustgarten.org) or the Purple Heart Foundation (purpleheartfoundation.org).
Service Information
Thursday, September 20, 2018 10:00am,
Idaho Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints
Address Not Available
Interment Information
Thursday, September 20, 2018 2:30pm,
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Address Not Available