David Williams

David Noel Williams, age 89, of Ann Arbor, MI passed away on March 19,2024. He was one of the smartest people around (yes, a particle physicist) but was known even more for his generous heart and caring spirit. A true southern gentleman (as his wife often described him). He will be greatly missed by his family and friends

David Williams was born October 10, 1934 in Lewisburg, Tennessee to Eudora and Revell Williams. David grew up in the south enjoying spring-fed swimming holes and climbing the giant’s thumb (a rock formation he brought his kids back to climb in future years). He graduated from Spring City High School and went on to attend Maryville College, where he had strong family ties. While a student there, he met Jean Boyd, who had come from Pennsylvania to study at Maryville. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Physics and Philosophy from Maryville, he married his Pennsylvania sweetheart. The young couple moved to California, where David supported the family by working at Lockheed while also pursuing physics at the University of California at Berkeley. Once Jean earned her degree and teaching certificate, he was able to devote himself full time to his studies and earned a PhD in Physics. The young couple lived in Europe while David did Postdoctoral Studies at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland and then at the French National Center for Scientific research in Saclay, France. Then it was back to the United States for a year at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and for the birth of his daughter Judith. David then accepted a teaching position at the University of Michigan, where he taught and did research for 33 years. During those years he was able to take Sabbaticals in Berlin and Melbourne, Australia. As a Professor Emeritus, he continued to “work on Physics”.

During his career as a professor, David also pursued a passion for a new up-and-coming gadget—the home computer. This interest led him to help develop a software language program for physicists that is still being used today. Many years after he had retired, one of his nephews was in a Bachelor’s Program at Princeton University and was thrilled to read an article for class written by his uncle David!

A lifelong learner, David always had a stack of books (which he finished in record time), took up a number of languages foreign to him (French, German, Spanish), and was always looking for ways to help (tutoring relatives virtually during the pandemic for example). When facing health challenges, he was always known by his grace and kindness to the medical staff who walked alongside. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and professor.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Jean; his children, Judi (Curt) Quiner of Chanhassen, MN and Alex (Maricela) Williams of Toluca MX; his grandchildren, Christy and Hannah Quiner of Chanhassen, MN and Alexander Williams of Toluca MX; brother, John; siblings-in-law, Jim Boyd, Charlie (Pat) Boyd, Marge (Dave) Rupp, Dick Boyd, Nancy Boyd, Sam (Cheryl) Boyd, Shirley O’Baker, and Marilyn White; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

David was preceded in death by his parents, F. Revell and Eudora, and by half-siblings-in-law, Douglas Dougherty, Harry Dougherty, Louis Dougherty, and June Wise.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in David’s honor to the University of Michigan Physics Department online at: https://giving.umich.edu/um/make-a-gift#!schools-and-colleges_college-of-literature,-science,-and-the-arts_physics

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at the First Congregational Church, 608 E. William Street, Ann Arbor, MI.