In loving Memory of Paul J. Williams

Paul John Williams, 93, of Spokane, Washington, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025.  Born on January 27, 1932, in New York City (Manhattan), Paul was the eldest son of Erik and Annette (Villain) Williams. 

Paul grew up in New York City (Jackson Heights and Flushing) and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1949, a school geared towards students with interests in math and science.  He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1952 and attended both M.I.T. and Yale University; he received a Master’s Degree from Yale University where he also taught thermodynamics.

On October 16, 1954, he married the love of his life, Catherine (Kay) Aylward LaBonte in Newton, Massachusetts, and they started raising a family in Milford, Connecticut.  He worked on aeronautical designs and manufacturing for Sikorsky Aircraft until 1965, when the family moved to Bethesda, Maryland where Paul worked as a consultant in the transportation industry for several decades.  Several years following Kay’s death in 1989, Paul moved to a smaller home in nearby Germantown, Maryland where he lived until 2008, when he moved to Spokane to be closer to family.

Paul is survived by his sons Bruce (Jacquelyn) of Spokane and Brent of Anchorage, Alaska, grandchildren Katie Klindworth (Cullen) of Connell, Washington and Jack of Spokane, great-grandson Oliver Klindworth of Connell, Washington, brothers David of Beaumont, California, and Donald of Prairie Village, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He maintained a lifelong friendship with Len Kranser (Miriam) of Dana Point, California.  They met when they were seven and, as adults, they continued a tradition of calling on each other’s birthday.

As a child, Paul loved exploring New York City and would delight in finding alternate subway/bus combinations to get from school to home.  He was active in the YMCA, and he and Len enjoyed frequent YMCA-chaperoned visits to the 1938-39 World’s Fair.  In high school, Paul was on the swimming team and held leadership roles in the history and math clubs.  He served in the Army in the early 1950s in post-war Germany where he developed a lifelong love of German food and art.  He enjoyed playing trivia games, puzzles, and chess and took great pride in providing volunteer library services in his later years.  He and his brothers were longtime baseball fans and Paul enjoyed attending Yankees games in his youth,  and Spokane Indians games with his family in his later years. 

A private celebration of life will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to a cause close to your heart.