John "Jack" Wright Williams Jr., 95, of Solomons, Maryland passed on December 19, 2016 of natural causes. He was the son of the late John Wright and Ruby Chamberlain Williams. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Marjorie A. Williams, and daughter, Lynne W. Starkweather; as well as his second wife, Juanita Clifton; and his third wife, Betty Jean Hatch-Thomas.

He is survived by his daughter, Janet W. Walker; son and daughter-in-law, Allen S. and Janice F. Williams; son-in-law, Kendall N. Starkweather; six grandchildren, Jeffrey Walker, Amye Scrivener, Stephen Walker, Claire Forrest, Lori Walker, and Sarah Draheim; twelve great grandchildren, Josh and Ryan Walker, Adam, Jacob and Jaymie Scrivener, Andrew and Tyler Walker, Trevor, Hewitt and Arden Forrest, Logan and
Tenley Draheim.

Mr. Williams was born on a farm and grew up in Calvert County where he attended grade school. He later graduated with majors in government and economics from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating from College in 1943, and received orders to attend Midshipmen's School in Chicago, Illinois where he was commissioned as an Ensign. Additional training took place in Norfolk, VA and Fort Pierce, FL.

Plans to marry locally had to be changed as World War II activities heightened. With his parents present and several Naval friends, he married Marjorie Allen on December 26, 1943. He was assigned to LST 497 in the amphibious corps and on June 6th, 1944 was on Omaha Beach on D Day where, as a Lieutenant, he commanded crews that were sent to retrieve the wounded. He was on the beach for an additional three weeks and was also involved in assaults against the Germans in nearby areas. A notable event during his tour of duty was the birth of his first child, which he would not see until after his return when she was six months old.

Upon his honorable discharge in 1953, he worked for the Southern Maryland Farm Credit Group, and in 1960 moved to the Baltimore office supervising staff in Towson, Belair, Southern Maryland, Denton, Salisbury, and Dover, Delaware. In 1962, he was appointed Secretary/Treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company in Calvert County, and later became President, and retired in 1988. Retirement was a word that did not exist in Jack's vocabulary before or after 1988. In 1957, he was elected as a Director for the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and served for 47 years. He was a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Finance Board and was appointed as director of the Federate Insurance Company working with all electric cooperatives for insurance.

He was a past board member and past president of the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. He was also a board member of the legislative committee of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and became its president in 1989 and 1990. He also served as Chairman of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Calvert County Marine Museum, served on the Calvert County Fire/Rescue Commission, was a member of the local Farm Bureau, Trinity United Methodist Church, and several other organizations. Upon retiring from those responsibilities, he and his wife, Marjorie, enjoyed many trips across the Country, visiting all 50 states, many in their motor home.

In 1996, as part of the founding residents, he and his wife, Marjorie moved to the Asbury-Solomons Retirement Community where both were extremely active. After Marjorie's death in 1998, Jack married Juanita Clifton, and following her death in 2002, he married Betty Jean Hatch-Thomas until her death in 2011. Referred to in the Asbury newsletter as "Our Mr. Calvert County and Mr. Asbury-Solomons", Jack was a member of the Board of Asbury Foundation, Chairman of the Leadership Council for Asbury, and he dedicated the chapel at Asbury to the memory of his wife, Marjorie, and the fireplace in the dining room in memory of his wife, Marjorie and daughter, Lynne.

He was the organizing force and chairperson of the Investment Club, he was the author of numerous newsletter articles on Calvert County history, including his "Life on the Tobacco Farm" series, recipient of the Asbury Star Award, member of the Vespers Choir, managed mail delivery in the Health Care Center on Mondays, called Bingo, was an active card player and took part in many events.

Pallbearers for Jack will be: Jeffrey Walker, Stephen Walker, Josh Walker, Ryan Walker, Adam Scrivener, Jacob Scrivener, and Robert Hall, Jr. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home.