Herbert Bateman Williams

Herbert Bateman Williams

Pensacola - CAPT Herbert B. Williams, USNR (Ret.), age 77, lost his fight to COPD July 27, 2021.

Herb was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on September 10, 1943, graduating from Fayetteville High School in 1961. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and graduated with the class of 1965.

After graduation, he attended flight training in Pensacola, Saufley

Field, Whiting Field and received his Navy Wings in Corpus Christi, Texas on December 9, 1966.

He then went to VP-56 flying and navigating P-2 aircraft in Norfolk and deployed to Rota, Spain before the squadron moved to Patuxent River, Maryland and transitioned to P-3C's. His next tour was as a flight instructor flying TS-2s in Corpus Christi, Texas. He then went to Keflavik, Iceland in the AIMD for a year and then to the Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia, PA. He was released from active duty in 1975 and moved to Washington, DC working at the Naval Air Systems Command and flew P-3's with the reserves at Patuxent River, Maryland.

He married Betty Gearhart, December 24, 1976, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They moved to Pensacola, Florida in 1980 from the DC area. He worked in the Weapons Systems Management Office at the Naval Air Rework Facility and flew P-3's with the reserves in New Orleans. When the Naval Air Rework Facility moved to Jacksonville, he stayed in Pensacola and moved to the Chief of Naval Education and Training in the NROTC office, retiring in January 1999. He retired from the Naval Reserves in VTU 1021, after being CO of ABFC, Pensacola, as a Captain, in January 1989. He received numerous awards in both his military and civil service careers. Herb was involved in several social and civic groups, along with being a life-time member of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Naval Reserve Association, Navy League of the United States, Association of the United States Navy, and others. He also was a member of the Warrington Church of Christ.

His retirement years were spent golfing (3 holes in one), genealogy, birdwatching and sea turtle monitoring.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Junius Sneed and Margaret Bateman Williams and his two brothers Junius Sneed Williams, Jr., and Walter Smith Williams.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Betty Williams, children: Herbert Bateman Williams, Jr. (Brenna), Dawn Michelle Maxwell (fiancé Mike Menke), grandsons: Dylan Spence Maxwell and Daulton Shane Maxwell, along with 3 nieces and 2 nephews.

Active Pallbearers are: Ron Fortin, Donnie Gable, Jim Hassell, Rommie Hodge, Bobby Louhier and Robert Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in his memory to: Escambia Christian School, P. O. Box 17449, Pensacola, FL 32522.

Visitation will be held at Waters and Hibbert Funeral Home, on Monday, August 2, 2021, from 4 to 6 PM.

Funeral services will be held at Warrington Church of Christ, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 11:30 AM, with Minister's Chris Pinney and Randy Missildine officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Naval Air Station. There will be a Live Stream of Mr. Williams funeral services on www.watersandhibbert.com

A Reception will be held at Calvert's in the Heights, Tuesday, August 2, 2021, from 3 to 5 PM.

To send CONDOLENCES please visit www.watersandhibbert.com

WATERS & HIBBERT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.