Lester E. Williams Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 4, 2018. He was 83.
The son of Lester E. Williams, Sr. and Dorothy Smith, he was born in Cranston, RI on June 1, 1935. He is preceded in death by his father Lester E. Williams, Sr., his mother Dorothy B. Smith, and his sister Carol Roberts.
In 1952, Lester joined the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1956. He married his wife Barbara in 1959. He was a member of the Pawtuxet Volunteer Fire Company #1 until he joined the Cranston Fire Department in 1957, eventually attaining the rank of Chief of the Department in 1986. He served on the State of Rhode Island Dive Rescue team, was a past president of the RI Firefighters Instructors Association and was a member of the R.I. Association of Fire Chiefs. Upon retiring in 1992 he and his wife Barbara traveled the country, and in 2004 they moved to Stuart, Florida where he enjoyed boating. They were also summer residents in Thomaston, Maine. Lester and Barbara treasured more than 25 years of retirement together.
He is survived by his wife Barbara (Giblin) Williams, his daughter Tracey Williams, and son Terence Williams, as well as his five beloved grandchildren: Alexander Williams-Mardian, Samuel Williams, Theodore Williams, Clark Williams and Faith Williams. Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation/ First Responders Outreach.
