Bill Williams, Aerospace Executive

Walter David (Bill) Williams, who enjoyed a long career in the aerospace industry, died at home in Pacific Palisades on January 2. He was 74. Williams was born in Chicago to Dr. Walter Williams and Theresa Barbara Gilman Williams. His sister, Barbara, died at the age of 3. His father, who practiced dentistry, was hospitalized with a stroke when Bill was only seven and died seven years later. Bill and his mother moved into his grandparents’ home in Chicago, where he graduated from high school at 15. He attended Ohio University where his uncle was a professor, and supported himself by working at a bakery and as a resident assistant. He was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After college, Bill joined the army as an intelligence officer, where he immediately caught the eye of his superiors. Captain Williams was recruited by the National Security Agency of the U. S. government to be a code-breaker during the Korean War. Bill said he “really enjoyed reading other people’s mail.” After attending Harvard Business School and receiving his MBA in 1955, Bill moved to California and began his aerospace career at Hughes Aircraft. He bought a home in Encino for himself and his mother, who moved to California to live with him. He and Joan Armstrong were married on October 22, 1960, and had three sons. After working for Hughes, Bill worked for the Rand Corporation, TRW and SDC before joining Northrop in 1963. In 1972, he and his family moved to Boston for a year when Bill was selected as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow at M.I.T. Upon his return to California, he oversaw Northrop’s worldwide sales as vice president of international marketing. He also served as an export advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1986 to 1998. Bill was married to Jackie Perkins at St. Monica’s Church on August 27, 2003. After 23 years of bachelorhood, he had proposed to Jackie on the 12th hole at L.A. Country Club. Together they traveled to Europe and enjoyed mutual faith and commitment to Jesus Christ and were faithful parishioners at St. Monica’s and Calvary Church in Pacific Palisades. Last year, they attended Bill’s 50-year reunion at Harvard. Bill was exceptional in everything he did. He deeply loved his family, his friends and his church. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, a Knight of Malta, a member of Cha’ne des R’tisseurs, a member of the Swing Club at LACC, and a generous contributor to his community. In addition to his wife, Jackie, he is survived by his sons and grandchildren: Latham Lloyd (wife Suzanne) and their children Brittany and Bowen of Sun Valley, Idaho; Clayton Chapell (wife Kathreen) and their children Alexandria, Patricia and Kristina of San Antonio; and William Haven (wife Cynthia) and their children Caroline, MaryAnn and Elizabeth of Los Angeles.