On a blustery fall day Ed made his final trip with a beautiful view of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier from his room at Island Eldercare. He fought the good fight with Parkinson’s for many years until his heart stopped quietly and without pain at the age of 92.

Ed was born in Rosebud, Texas to Janie Buenavista and Bonner Williams. He was the eldest of five children (Bonnye Jane, Jimmy, George and Mary Ann). The family lived throughout east Texas eventually settling in Cleveland, Texas. Ed attended Kilgore Junior College where he had the enviable job of being a Pom Pom placer for the Kilgore Rangerettes and loved seeing them during the Macy’s Day Parade each year.

Following college, Ed joined the Air Force where he was a member of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron flying an F86. He joined United Airlines in 1956 and retired as a 747 Captain in 1990. After retirement, when he no longer had to be above reproach, Ed began sharing stories of his adventures and escapades while in the Air Force and with United, leaving his family laughing, and surprised with many good tales to share.

Ed married Charlotte (Epley) in 1958. They had two children, Shannon and Bret. Charlotte passed in 2014 on their 56th wedding anniversary.

Married life started in Southern California in the 1960s with close friends in Miraleste, bridge games, cocktail parties and kid birthday parties where he once appeared as a swami fortune teller. 1968 saw a move north to an old ranch in the shadow of Mt. Diablo in the East Bay Area. Ed enjoyed the cowboy life with the horses, riding in the hills, and all forms of ranch upkeep and repair. It was a great place for Shannon to spend her youth and teen years. During this era Ed was a Rotarian and Raiders fan. The north called again with a move to Vashon Island in 1977. Horses were replaced with boating, the Raiders fan became a Seahawks season ticket holder, and the Rotarian became a Kiwanian of more than 30 years, including time as President. Ed and Charlotte had many wonderful friends, hosted many par- ties at their home on Quartermaster Harbor and Ed developed a reputation as a wicked poker player.

Ed loved NFL football, running, rowing, good music, an ice cold Gibson, Scotch rocks, steaks, pecan pie, Oreos, Scrabble and his poker buddies. He travelled the world with his profession and dozens of ventures with Charlotte. He introduced Shannon to Broadway musicals and NY delis during holiday trips to NYC. Travels included 27 boat cruises to six con- tinents and exploring the USA from top to bottom. Adventures included the LA Olympics, Mardi Gras and the Kentucky Derby. He climbed atop the Great Wall of China and the Great Pyramid. His favorite spot on earth always remained the Hawaiian islands. He was a charmer with a perpetual twinkle in his eye and a good story to tell. He loved his family and although he did not return to live in Texas, it remained in his heart forever. He was a wonderful guiding star dad, fantastic father-in-law, and beloved Pawpa to his granddaughter, Brette.

His surviving family includes his daughter Shannon (Williams) Flora, son-in-law Jon, and granddaughter Brette of Vashon Island, Washington. He is also survived by his son, Bret Williams, who lives in a group home in California, and his beloved youngest sister Mary Ann Riggs (husband Kenneth and sons Scott and Mark) of Texas along with several other neph- ews, nieces, cousins and in-laws in Texas, Virginia and California.

We thank the wonderful staff at Merrill Gardens Burien where he resided the past five years and was a staff favorite known for his wardrobe of base- ball caps and dapper white dinner jacket. We are grateful for the support of Sarah Rogers, MD.

Ed loved his buddies and horses and would want you to support the organi- zations that have offered these things for his granddaughter Brette. In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to www.bestbuddies.org/washington or www. littlebit.org

Friends are invited to celebrate a life well lived at Palouse Winery on Vashon Island Friday Jan. 6, 1-4 p.m. Aloha shirts and Seahawks attire encouraged. For more information contact shannon.flora@outlook.com. An additional service will take place at a later date in Texas.