Jack Williams

Jack Williams
Jack Williams, 93, passed away January 9, 2013, at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest. He was the husband of Gloria (Shupp) Williams. They were married 67 years in April. Born in Palmerton, graduated Stephen S. Palmer High School and Penn State College. A student member of the Army Air Corps Reserve, he was called into the Cadet Flight training program and active military duty, serving 38 months during World War II. He was an Aerial Navigator, First Lieutenant, and Assistant Operations Officer in the 513th Squadron of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group of the 15th Army Air Force in the WW II European Theater as Group Navigator; he prepared missions from directives and briefed flying personnel prior to take off. Upon completion of a 50-mission combat tour, all in B-24s, he concluded military service as a cruise Control Officer on B-29s. Decorations and citations included the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star for the Rome Arno campaign, the Southern France Campaign, Bronze Star for Air Combat Balkans, two Bronze Stars for the Northern Appennines-Rhineland Campaigns. Jack returned to Penn State College following wars end and was a member of Scarab, Pi Gamma Alpha, and Eng. Society. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering, preceded internship with the firm of Robert Willgoos in Alexandria, VA. A firm prominent in school design; he became Chief Designer and Project Manager at Allentown firm of Wolf and Hahn prior to the establishment of his own architectural practice in 1962. He was a charter member of the Eastern PA Chapter of American Institute of Architects, a professional member of the Guild for Religious Architecture, and one of the founders of the Allentown Chapter of the Construction Specification Institute. A 20-year member of Northampton County Community College Architectural Technology Program Advisory Committee, organized to assist and advise the development of curriculum. New church projects designed by Williams were Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Allentown, at which he was a charter member. Calvary Temple, South Whitehall Township, St. James Lutheran Church, Coopersburg, Hope U.C.C., Wind Gap, Advent Moravian, Bethlehem, St. Pauls Lutheran, Fountain Hill, St. Marks Lutheran, Butztown, and Concordia Lutheran, Lower Macungie Township. Additions and alterations to scores of churches and public schools were designed in a career that emphasized heavily the ecclesiastical and educational fields of architecture. Among the numerous area church plants extensively expanded or renovated was Trinity Lutheran Church of Perkasie; St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Catasauqua; Upper Milford Mennonite of Zionsville; Emmaus Moravian Church; First Presbyterian of Washington, NJ; St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran of Emmaus; Faith U.C.C., Allentown; Faith Presbyterian of Emmaus; Baptist Church of South Whitehall Township; and St. Johns U.C.C., Palmerton. Jack was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7088, Emmaus. Survivors: Surviving with his widow is a son, Lee and his wife, Lori, of South Whitehall Township; a daughter, Sandra, wife of Peter Weismantle, A.I.A., RSBA, of Oak Park, IL; a son, Richard, preceded him in death. Five grandchildren, Jaclyn and Gregory Williams, Douglas, Kirsten and Katrine Weismantle. Services: Private. Arrangements by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contribute to the St. Michaels Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Nativity Memorial Fund, 4004 West Tilghman St., Allentown, PA 18104.