Great-grandfather, centenarian, World War II veteran

Frederick David Henry Williams has died peacefully in his home, with family at his side. He was 100 years old.

Fred was born June 25, 1925 Niagara Falls, New York to Frederick Thomas Harold Williams and Margaret Ann Evans. The family lived in England during his early school years. They moved to an English colony of Brazil when he was a teenager, a period he often recalled as the most wonderful time of his life. “He spent most days in the swimming pool trying to swim like Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller,” his family shared. “One day a week they could only speak Portuguese. He could still remember many words and songs in Portuguese.”

After moving back to England around the age of 16 he took a job in a mercantile store, where he worked his way up to apprentice in the machine shop. After that he worked for Gilbert, Gilkes, and Gordon as a machinist in Kendal, England, helping build pumps for the Suez Canal.

When World War II broke out in 1939 he was sent to northeast England to live with a few different relatives.

He began serving in the U.S. Army in 1946, first in the 3071^st mobile refrigeration unit before later being assigned to the 16^th Constabulary Squadron in the American sector of Berlin for his remaining duty. He was honorably discharged in 1949.

With his tour of duty complete, he returned to America and worked as a truck driver in Cleveland, Ohio, where he met his wife of 73 years, Gloria. They came West to Los Angeles and raised their children David and Lorelei. He moved to Claremont Manor in January 2024, where his family said, “He came alive again. He got involved playing bridge and poker regularly. He enjoyed participating in current events talks. In 2025 Fred turned 100. A party was held in his honor that is still being talked about.”

He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, who died in September 2024 at the age of 97.

He is survived by his son David Williams and daughter-in-law Susan Williams; daughter Lorelei Rimpau and son-in-law John Rimpau; grandchildren Laura, Melissa, and Sean; great-grandchildren Lillian, Martin, June, Summer, and Riley Rae, who was born March 20, 2025. He is also survived by a half-brother, Peter Turvey, in England, who has seven nieces and nephews and 13 great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18 in Claremont Manor’s Manor Hall.