Charles "Charley" Williams

1945 - 2022

Oakdale - HMCM (SS) Charles "Charley" Williams departed Eternal Patrol May 18, 2022, after complications from an aneurysm. Born in Duplin County, N.C. in 1945, he always loved his home state of North Carolina. For the past few years Charley enjoyed spending his retirement with family between his homes in Denton, Texas, and Oakdale.

Charley enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966. Always proud of his humble early life, he rose to the highest position in the U.S. Navy medical department as force master chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He became the first Force to have earned a warfare designation, serving in the submarine force for over 15 years. Some of his favorite tours included being an independent duty corpsman on the USS Cavalla (SSN684), Medical Master Chief and Command Master Chief of SUBLANT, and as Command Master Chief at Naval Hospital Groton. He was also stationed at Great Lakes, Camp Lejeune, and Yokosuka, Japan Naval Hospitals. He was awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement from active duty in 1994.

After retiring from the military, Charley remained committed to supporting veterans by serving as the Chief of Staff for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs. As the project manager, he was instrumental in building the new 125 bed CT Veterans Healthcare Center in Rocky Hill. For many years, he worked part time on a charter fishing boat out of Groton, continuing his lifelong love of being on the water and fishing.

Charley is survived by his loving wife Dianne (Senger); his children, Christopher (Chris) Williams of Montville, and Emily Williams Knight (son-in law Alec) of Southlake, Texas; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Olivia Knight of Southlake, Texas, and Sofia Williams of Montville; brother Fred of Charlotte, N.C.; and numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; and siblings, DeVilla, Wallace, and Clyde.

Charley loved his family, this country and the military (both active duty and veterans). When he was not bragging about his offspring, he could be found watching UConn women's basketball and high school athletics, enjoying great TX BBQ, visiting Captain Scotts in New London, attending church and always listening to Willie's Roadhouse.

A June Celebration of Life is being held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the Chesterfield Fire Company in Oakdale. In the fall, he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in his name to an organization that serves veterans, or personally act to improve the life of a veteran in need.