John J. Williams, age 91, a lifelong resident of Winchester, passed away peacefully at home on April 22, lovingly surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband for 65 years of Phyllis B. (O'Neil) Williams.
Born in Arlington and raised in Winchester, John was the son of the late Thomas Williams and Faith (Kelley) Williams. He was a 1947 graduate of Winchester High School, and after a year of post graduate work at WHS he enlisted in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Staff Sargent at Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois. Following his honorable discharge in 1952 he returned to Winchester, began working for New England Telephone and started dating the love of his life, Phyllis O’Neil; they were married in July 1955.
John and Phyllis settled in Winchester in 1960, purchasing what would become the family homestead for five children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. The patriarch of a large fun-loving family, John (affectionately known as “Pop”) spent his life surrounded by the love and laughter of those he cherished most.
John dedicated many years of service to his hometown. He was a Winchester Town Meeting member for thirty years and served on the Select Board and the Finance Committee. He was an active member of the Jay Cees, the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, and the Indian Bluffs Improvement Association.
John retired from the telephone company in 1990, and he and Phyllis spent many years traveling to the Caribbean and across the country. He was a great lover of the beach, and his two favorite places were at the family’s second home on Manomet Beach (Plymouth, MA) and the beaches of Aruba.
John was a voracious reader and a man of great intellect. He loved crossword puzzles, trivia and history, and he always kept up with current events. But his greatest love was his family, and his ultimate joy was spending time surrounded by his large and often boisterous clan.
He leaves behind a legacy of laughter and love and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him, especially those who had the particular honor of being loved by him.
John is lovingly remembered by his wife Phyllis, his children John Jr. “Jay” Williams and his wife Angelina of Pleasanton, CA, Joyce Williams-Boisjolis and her husband Bob of Grandy, MA, Steve Williams and his wife Angela of Ipswich, MA, Kathy Koplow and her husband Paul of Waltham, MA, and Debbie Chasse and her husband Harold of Winchester. He was the beloved grandfather of Jill, Brian, Jessica, Vanessa, Glynn, Emma, Kiana, Laina, and Dylan, and the great-grandfather of Penny, Clara, Jack, Matilda, Lucy, Braelyn, and Delaney.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Funeral Services are private.
A celebration of John’s life will take place under a tent in the yard of his childhood home at 21 Myrtle Street, Winchester on May 5th from 3pm – 6pm. Friends are welcome to drop by.