The life of Stanley Richard Williams Jr., who passed away on January 25, 2023, just shy of his 100th birthday, is a testament to resilience and creativity. A resident of Aurora for many years before moving to Plainfield, Williams was a multifaceted individual, deeply engaged in various pursuits, from poetry to bowling, and significantly impacted his community.
Williams was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as a third-class signalman aboard a Landing Craft Infantry ship during World War II. His ship played a critical role in providing fire support during invasions in the Pacific Theater, notably at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In interviews archived by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, Williams recounted surviving multiple typhoons and six Kamikaze attacks, experiences that marked him for life. Despite the harrowing nature of his service, he often downplayed his own wartime experiences, stating, “I hate war… I walked out and forgot the war.”
Born in West Virginia, Williams moved to Southern California during his final year of high school, joining the Navy just before turning 18. His proficiency in Morse Code and semaphore, cultivated through his time as a Boy Scout, led him to train as a signalman. After basic training in San Diego, he was deployed to Pearl Harbor and later to the Philippines, where he faced the realities of naval combat.
After his discharge on June 7, 1946, Williams utilized the GI Bill to pursue an English degree at Long Beach State College. His plans to become an educator shifted due to family circumstances, leading him to a successful career in bowling. An accomplished bowler himself, Williams transitioned to coaching and managing bowling centers, earning a reputation as a perfectionist in the sport.
Williams was also a dedicated Scoutmaster, actively involved in youth camps and leading excursions with the L.A. County Parks and Recreation. While he described himself as a loner, he found camaraderie among fellow veterans after moving to Aurora in 1990. He eventually became a member of the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, as well as participating in the Aurora Veterans Breakfast Club.
His legacy extended beyond his military service. Williams was a prolific poet, authoring over 3,000 poems and publishing four books. He served as poet laureate for Honor Flight Chicago and contributed to the community through weekly poetry submissions to local publications. His wife, Christine Williams, described him as immensely patriotic and deeply knowledgeable, with a love for history and literature, idolizing figures like Abraham Lincoln.
Christine recalls that although it was challenging to elicit details about his war experiences, Williams was always eager to share stories from other aspects of his life. “He was a character… he won my heart,” she reflected.
Following his passing, a memorial service is scheduled for May 11, which would have been his 100th birthday, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, with a luncheon to follow at their Plainfield residence.
“Richard lived ten times in his lifetime with all he did,” Christine said, emphasizing the remarkable breadth of his experiences. Friends and family remember him not just for his achievements, but for his kind spirit and enduring love for life.
