David L. Williams, 92, of Vero Beach and Lyme, Conn., formerly of Longmeadow, Mass. And Suffield, Conn., passed away on Nov. 6, 2014.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Young Williams; daughters, Linda Seabury (Scott) and Susan Frazier (Michael); grandchildren, Sarah Frazier, Kathleen Frazier, and Chelsea Seabury Smith; step-daughters and a step-son, Douglas and Jennifer Milliken, Demie and Drew Kufta, Nan and Steve Vaughn, and Tracy and Horst Fengler.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Fran Williams.
Williams was born in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 9, 1922, the son of Stanley and Mary Lee Williams. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1941 and entered Wesleyan University.
With the outbreak of WWII, he joined the Naval Reserve and was called into service in 1943, which he described in his book, Dangerous Seas. After hostilities ended, he was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and resumed his studies at Wesleyan, graduating in 1947. He spent the next 45 years as president of his own insurance business in Springfield, Mass., retiring in 1992.
He received numerous awards and honors in the insurance business, was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and was inducted in the Connecticut General Insurance Hall of Fame.
Williams developed a love of writing from his father who was Sterling Professor of English and Literature at Yale University. He had a keen interest in English and American history, and was an avid tennis player and golfer. He was a member of the Springfield area Gladden Club and The Club. He was an active member of the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Mass., and The Community Church of Vero Beach.
Memorial Services will be at First Church of Christ, 763 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. and in Vero Beach at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA of Vero Beach, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 and the Wounded Warriors Project at woundedwarriorproject.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
