Vincent Wayne Williams

1938 - 2015

Vincent Wayne Williams
11/27/1938 - 3/13/2015
Resident of Santa Cruz
Vince died suddenly in his studio doing what he loved. Vince was born in Reno, Nevada and shortly after his family returned to California. His Father had wander lust, but settled for a while in Santa Cruz during Vince's high school years. He joined the Navy, they had a room full of tables and telephones with a wall of phone books, he could call anywhere. He went over to the Santa Cruz County phone book, and realized that Santa Cruz was his home.
Vince enjoyed following his father's footsteps into construction, often working with his brother Eugene, or later his partner and friend Larry Quigley. He always had a creative side. Duncan Blue gave him some oil paints when he was living on a commune in the sixties, and a new passion was born.
In the early seventies he met Kerry, a young girl traveling from Michigan looking for enlightment. It was Magical, a full moon and a red tide, and they were together for the rest of his life.
Vin began setting enamel pins in a redwood table he had made, but he was having a hard time finding the ones he needed to tell the story in his head. So he took some classes and a hobby turned into a business. They were enamellists, participating in Art and Craft Shows throughout six western states. They worked for a dear friend Steve Powers at his Craft Shows as riggers to help cover expenses; it was like a traveling family and then home to Santa Cruz. Living the dream.
In the late eighties Vince & Kerry wanted to expand their horizons, so they went to San Jose State University and studied glass blowing and became glassblowers.
As the Universe turns, Vin had a son in the fifties who was adopted so the child could have a more stable life, yet they were reunited in the late nineties. Jim Capps of Sacramento had a wonderful life growing up and has a family of his own: wife Diane and children Christopher, Christine, Stevie, Kellie, and Jessica; but Jim always wondered who his father was. Although cautious when they first met, over time they built a close friendship. It was a blessing and a miracle. The circle was complete.
As the universe turns again, in 2010 Vince was found by his step-sister Kathy Burton and husband Scott Douglas of Sonora, and he was reunited with his father's second family, Thadius Williams and wife Debbie of Oregon and Cora Schook and husband Nick of Alaska. Vin was so glad for the reconnection. Another blessing and miracle, another circle completed.
Vin loved Stars and Space, the next frontier; her returned to tell Kerry that he was in the Stars and to take care of his beloved Scotty dog, Sunshine.
Someone once said there were 7000 Artists in Santa Cruz, now there are only 6999. Maybe sometimes his technique wasn't flawless, but each piece came from Vince's heart and soul. He worked in glass, enamels, oils, and wood. His current works in progress were of a 3-D skeleton holding the planet Earth and shaking his finger, a landscape of Santa Cruz Lighthouse, and a K train. (He liked the letter K, big and strong like his Kerry).
He loved reading about different Religions and military history. He liked gardening and working with his hands. He always had a cheerful yet quiet disposition. Vin was truly unique. He was full of love. he made you laugh every day. He tried to be a grumpy old man, but he didn't pull it off very well. He was not a saint, but rather more like the Pope of the Hippies. The Planet blinked, and he was gone.
Vin was fortunate to know so many very talented people who each in their own way influenced and enlightened his outlook and enhanced his life.