April 24, 1942 – June 9, 2024

David was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Mary Sanderson and David R. Williams. He grew up in Struthers, Ohio, and spent his childhood with his neighborhood pals climbing trees, fishing and building forts in the woods behind Lake Hamilton. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and sang in the children’s choir.

He graduated from Struthers High School in 1960 before joining the U.S. Air Force. From 1962 to 1966, he trained and served as a radio intercept operator in San Antonio, San Francisco, and Japan.

After his military service, David obtained his bachelor’s degree in business from Youngstown State University. In college, he met and married love-of-his-life Judith Ann Buchanan in 1968. The couple welcomed daughter Jennifer three years later.

David was employed by Youngstown Sheet and Tube until September 19, 1977, when the company abruptly closed its doors. He and a number of his co-workers found immediate employment with Newport News Shipbuilding, and they all moved their families to Virginia. As an industrial engineer in multiple departments, David worked with Newport News Shipbuilding until his retirement in 2007. If asked what he did, David said, “I ride a bike around the shipyard, take pictures of current operations, and find ways to save money.”

David was a math whiz and always quick with dates, times, and the analysis of those numbers. He wrote in a journal daily, frequently noting the price of gas or composing funny poems. Minor family disagreements about past events were often settled with the remark, “Let me check the journal.”

David loved to read. Plenty of books about physics, airplanes, and history graced his shelves. His favorite novel of all time was Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. He also loved movies, especially Dr. Strangelove and The Bishop’s Wife.

Other things on his list of loves were his family, animals, coffee, working out at the YMCA, vacationing, dining out, chopping wood, Stephen Hawking, Stephen King, Star Trek, Star Wars, Johnny Cash, John Wayne, George Carlin, pork chops, Bloody Marys and his favorite airplane, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

David had a wicked and sharp sense of humor. He was quick with a joke, a silly pun, or a funny face.

David was an active member of The Chesapeake retirement community as well as a longtime member of Mended Hearts Chapter 119 at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

He was a part of a card club that met monthly for more than 32 years. This special group of eight longtime friends—David, Judy, Ed, Diane, Jerry, Patti, Smitty and Celia­—played the game 500.

David enjoyed other games, especially bridge, as well as Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Soduku, and logic puzzles.

David leaves behind to cherish his memories his wife Judy; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Brett England of Chesapeake, Virginia; sister-in-law Maggie and spouse Greta Brown of Portland, Oregon; brother Richard Williams of Struthers, Ohio; special furry friends Leonardo and KittyKat Williams; cousins; nephews and a host of supportive and loving friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the Chesapeake Room at The Chesapeake, 955 Harpersville Road, Newport News, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Isle of Wight County Animal Services, 13044 Poor House Road, Windsor, Va. 23397, or through https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/IOW.

The family also suggests that you take yourself to Barnes & Noble and purchase a copy of Catch-22.