Ralph Oscar Williams
March 3, 1927 - July 19, 2009
Obituary
Ralph Oscar Williams was born to Ralph and Juanita Williams on March 3, 1927 in Sapulpa, OK. As an infant the family moved to a small town near Denver. His parents divorced and his mother married Heman Davis whom he considered his father all of his life. His father married Esther and they had at least two sons who lived in the Denver area until his death less than a year ago.
Sometime in his youth, the family moved to Sacramento where Ralph graduated from high school. He went to college then served in the US Navy from 1945-1949 earning the WWII Victory Medal, the Phillipean Independance Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He served in the Reserves for some years after.
Following his discharge he married Phyllis Brisack on April 28, 1950. He worked for Continental Airlines as an agent and in 1950 was transferred to Las Cruces, NM where his first 2 children, Steve and Fran, were born. After 2 years there he was sent to Colorado Springs, followed by a year in Denver, and 1 1/2 years in Portland where Julie was born. Finally he went to Seattle where the twins, Jennifer and Jody were born and 2 years later his youngest Doug.
Ralph and Phyllis divorced and Ralph moved to Anacortes where he established Aladdin Tours & Travel with offices in Mount Vernon and Anacortes. He met and married June Harder in 1966 who had 3 children, Sandi Doherty, Carl deceased, and Karen Ray.
Ralph married Eris Fader on Nov.22, 1969 and during their almost 33 year marriage they referred to one another as ‘soul mates’. After they moved to Seattle because Ralph had found work he wanted to do in travel, Eris continued her nursing education at the UW. Ralph worked at that agency and often guided tour groups, throughout Europe, during those years. He had a home at the Bow Lake Mobile Home Park in Sea-Tac from 1977 until 2007.
Ralph and Eris loved traveling the world, both on land and sea. They went on many cruises, including the Bahamas, the Amazon River, the Mediteranian Sea, Southeast Asia and the Panama Canal. After their retirement in 1987 they spent 2 weeks every year on the island of Kauaii, Hawaii at their time share condo.
Eris suffered several dibilitating illinesses beginning in 1999 and Ralph lovingly cared for her during those difficult times until her death on July 10, 2002.
Ralph is survived by children: Stephen Teresa Williams, Frances Dean Biddle, Julie Markham, Jennifer Dave Miller, and Jody Tim Furness. He is also survived by step-children Kristie Russ Edwards, Jack Connie Fader, and Karen Gene. Ray: grand-children Briana, Michael & Laura Biddle, Scott Markham and Mindi Ketterman, Kim and Greg Wells, Jason and Rebecca Furness, and Jeremy and Jamie Williams, Matthew S. Williams and Stephanie Jo Tim Wiebe. Step grand-children Abbie Trimble, Cara Roraback, and Ellyn and Brian Groves, Luke, Lem, Bob and Andy Lampton, Hope Opfar, and Eric, Kimberly and Sidney Fader and 14 great-grandchildren. Two half brothers, Richard Lee and Mark Williams, and step sister, Faith McKeever. He was preceded in death by his wife Eris, step-daughter, Kandela in 1988 and son, Douglas in 1989.
Services are at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park and Mortuary at !2:30 PM on Tues. July 28. Viewing to begin at 9 AM. Reception following.
May my father rest in peace and for those that new him, my thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life’s routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
Daughter Jennifer
I did not know my Grandfather, Ralph very well. Not well at all actually. We briefly were in contact for about a year or two after I graduated from high school. Though I did not know him well, I do know that he was a very caring and generous person. As a child, I often wondered about who my mom’s “real” father was and have always been grateful to have been given the opportunity to meet Ralph and get to know him the little time that I had. May you rest in peace Grandpa Ralph. I know you are loved by many and will missed dearly.
~Mindi
Steve and I want to express our sympathy’s to the family. We so enjoyed our time spent with Ralph and Eris when we visited in Seattle and the surrounding areas. He will be sadly missed.
I love you Grandpa. I miss you.
In the last 7 years I have gotten to know my father more than the previous 45 years. I would call him 3 or 4 times a year and he would call me. When I was about 8 years old I cried when my father told me he was leaving and not coming back. At 18 we reunited briefly until I went into the service. I lost contact with him again until the death of my brother in 1988. For the next 15 years I saw my father maybe 4 times and then in 2002 he lost his soul mate, Eris to cancer. I had only meet her 4 or 5 times but I knew she was his soul mate and they very much in love. Because of her passing I believe his loneliness allowed me to re-enter his life and get to know him. I’m thankful for the time we had and wish there was more but life goes on. Father, may you fly like an Eagle and soar to the Heavens and reunite with your soul mate and smile upon us. Today I cry again as I say good bye for the last time. Tommorrow I’ll start to smile with you as I reflect on the times we had together.
To Ralph’s family and friends, I send my condolences.
I didn’t know my father-in-law that well… I enjoyed our visits. I can tell you I knew him as a kind man with a good sense of humor. He liked clam chowder…alot.
Since his passing I have gone through some letters he left with us and his many photo albums. He certainly had good looking children!
Ralph, I will miss the possibility of the visits we could have had. You loved to travel all of your life…it’s your time. Sail on.