Dr. J.O. Williams

Dr. J.O. Williams, Jr., 97, previously of Abilene, Texas, passed away of natural causes on Friday, January 14, 2022 at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was born on April 26, 1924 in Dallas, Texas to Joe O. and May Corrine Williams.  

Memorial services will be held, 12:00 noon, Friday, February 11, 2022, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, inurnment with full military honors will be held at The Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.

He married Laura Crawley on September 1, 1948 in Grass Valley, California, and they spent nearly 70 years together until her passing on March 15, 2018.

J.O. graduated from Stephen F. Austin Sr High School in Houston, Texas in 1941. He then started college at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, but was called to join the United States Navy in 1943, serving until 1956. During his service in the Navy, he attended the Advance Intelligence School followed by serving as an intelligence officer in WWII.  He graduated from Baylor University in 1948 and then UTSW Medical School in 1955. He completed his OBGYN residency at the Methodist Hospital of Dallas in 1959 with his last year as chief resident.  He was board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and was a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.   He served in the United States Air Force from 1956-1984.  During his service in the Air Force, J.O. was a Captain at Dyess Air Force Base hospital in Abilene, Texas, serving as Chief of OBGYN, from 1959-1963.  He then went into private practice at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas from 1963-1969.  J.O. and Laura moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1969.  J.O. joined UTSW Medical School in Dallas as a Clinical Associate Professor of OBGYN from 1969-1977 teaching OBGYN residents at John Peter Smith Hospital from 1969-1977.  J.O. and Laura then moved to their ranch in Cottonwood, Texas and he resumed working in private practice with Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene along with a second office in Cottonwood until he retired in 1989.   J.O. and Laura served as volunteers in the Medical Mission Service Corp and the Texas Baptist River Ministries to Mexico, 1989 to 1997.  

Of note, J.O. was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal July 1963 and the SAC Certificate of Merit of outstanding contribution and service, 1978.   He retired from the USAF in 1984 as a Col. in the Air Force reserves.

In retirement, J.O. enjoyed traveling, playing golf and singing in the church choir.

He was preceded in death by his wife Laura D. (Crawley) Williams, his youngest son, Bruce Williams, parents Joe O. and May Corinne (Waller) Williams, sister Shirley (Williams) Pregeant.  J.O. is survived by his children Priscilla (Williams) Anderson [Darrell preceded J.O. in death], Paul Williams [Carolyn], Yvonne (Williams) Suggs [David] and grandchildren James Anderson [Misty], Scott Williams [Lauri], Wendi (Williams) Castillo [Jeremy], Nora Williams, Dylan Williams [Chiaki], Laura (Williams) McMahon [Damon], Stephanie Williams, Heather (Williams) Linehan [Matt], Danielle Williams [Dustin Phillips], Rhiannon (Suggs) Baldauf [Nick] and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford St, Abilene, Texas, 79605.