Richard "Dick" Oakley Williams

Richard Oakley “Dick” Williams passed away at home on May 6, 2024, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 86. He was born on June 1, 1937, in Moscow, Idaho, to Charles P. Williams and Beulah S. (Weber) Williams. He arrived four days before his sister Arlene’s birthday. Brother Gordon arrived less than two years later. Richard was affectionately nicknamed “Oak” or “Oakie” by family.

The family lived in Joel, Idaho, for the first several years and then moved into town. Dick grew up in Moscow, Idaho, and graduated from Moscow High School in 1955. He enlisted in the Navy on June 7, 1955. Dick proudly served his country and received a Good Conduct Medal and Honorable Discharge in June 1959. 

Navy training included basic electronics and an introduction to aircraft. Dick traveled to Oklahoma, Tennessee, and California. His last active-duty assignment was Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty-Three. He traveled to Kamchatka/Bering Sea, Formosa, Okinawa, and Guam. It was an exciting time for a young man from a small town in Idaho, and Dick made lifelong friendships.

Dick married while he was serving in the Navy. He and his wife Janet started a family in California. During their 17 years of marriage, they had two sons and one daughter. When the marriage ended, Dick left California for employment and went to Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho. He lived in Bonner County his last 30 years.

Dick is survived by his loving wife Donna, his sister Arlene Headrick, and his brother Gordon (Cathy) Williams. He also is survived by the mother of his children, his sons Phil and Rick, his daughter Kristina, and his daughter-in-law Judy. He has four grandchildren: Troy (Meaghan), Shawna (Kevin), and twins Alexandra and Austin. In addition, Dick has four great-grandchildren: Reed, Nolan, Kinsley, and Ryland, all of whom Dick hoped to visit in California. 

Dick is survived by brother-in-law John (Mary Ellen) Sweet, sisters-in-law Teresa (Gregg) Orto and Lily (Donnie) Hoskin, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Services are under the arrangement of Coffelt Funeral Service and will be held in Sandpoint on Tuesday, July 16. A service with military honors will take place at 9:30 AM at Pinecrest Cemetery. The memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM at North Summit Church, with a reception and celebration of life to follow in the Connection Hall.

Memorials may be made to Bonner General Health Community Hospice, 520 N. Third Avenue, Sandpoint, ID 83864.