CAPT. JOHN E. WILLIAMS, U.S. COAST GUARD, RETIRED

COLUMBIA FALLS – Capt. John E. Williams, U.S. Coast Guard, retired, passed July 17, 2010, to the unseen temple from whose borne no traveler returns. Capt. Williams was born July 24, 1941, son of Edwin R. and Eleanor Hathaway Williams. He grew up in Guilford and graduated from Piscataquis Community High School in 1959. In 1963 he graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural science. While at the University of Maine, he was a member of Theta Chi social fraternity and Alpha Zeta honor fraternity. Capt. Williams was also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., and held a Master of Arts degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City. After working two years in Maine’s agricultural industry, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1965 and attended Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Va. He was commissioned an Ensign Jan. 22, 1966, and assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Achushnet, Portland. From Oct. 31, 1966, to Oct. 30, 1967, he served as executive officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Point Gammon in the Republic of Vietnam, patrolling the Mckong Delta. During this tour he earned the Combat Action Ribbon. After returning from Vietnam, he served as operations officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cowslip – a bouy tender home ported in South Portland. Other sea tours included operations officers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, Boston; executive officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active; and commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Unimak, New Bedford, Mass. His shore tours included operations officer of Reserve Group, Rockland; commanding officer of Ship Training Detachment Four, Boston; assistant training officer at Recruit Training Center, Cape May, N.J.; chief of intelligence and law enforcement branch at Third Coast Guard District, New York City; and assistant chief of the intelligence and law enforcement division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Capt. Williams’ final tour was as commander for Coast Guard Group, Southwest Harbor. In that capacity he was responsible for Coast Guard operations from Port Clyde to the Canadian border. He was a Mason and a member and past master of Jonesport Lodge No. 188, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Scottish Rite Bodies and Anah Temple Shrine. He was a member and past captain of Anah Shrine Mini-Car Unit, and a member and past president of Anah Shrine Past Masters Unit. Capt. Williams was also very involved in Veterans Affairs. He was quartermaster and past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 11553; past commander of VFW Post No. 386, Cap May, N.J.; VFW’s Department of Maine prisoners of wars/missing in action chairman; VFW’s representative on Wreaths Across America board of directors; and was most recently the VFW’s state commander of Maine. Capt. Williams was also a member of the American Legion, a life member of Disabled American Veterans, commander of Nicholes D. Golding Chapter No. 23 DAV, a life member of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association, a life member of Military Order of Cooties and a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Capt. Williams was a master Maine guide and life member of the National Rifle Association. Capt. Williams was serving as chairman of Wreaths Across America board of directors at the time of his death. Capt. Williams is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sheila (Bubar) of Columbia Falls; one son, John E. “Jack” Williams and his wife, Jennifer, who is serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Polk, La.; a grandson, John E. Williams III; two brothers, Richard A. Williams and wife, Rowena, of Guilford and Ralph L. Williams and companion, Sarah, of Abbott; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Darlene Bubar, Howard and Beverly Bagley, Dick and Judy Farnsworth, Richard and Leta Hayward, and Forrest and Linda Bubar; many nieces and nephews; a special friend, Gene Willey; and a special cousin, Carlson and Carolyn Williams. Services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at the VFW Hall, Route 1A, Harrington. Burial with full military honors will be held afterward at Mallory Hill Cemetery, Columbia. Those wishing to make donations in his memory may do so to VFW Post No. 11553 building fund, P.O. Box 202, Harrington, ME 04643 or Shriner’s Hospital, care of Anah Temple, P.O. Box 735, Bangor, ME 04402-0735. Arrangements in care of McClure Family Funeral Services, Machias and Lubec.