JOHN CAMPBELL WILLIAMSON, 93 John passed October 2, 2008. He was born January 17, 1915 in Manilla, The Philippines to James Cassius Williamson and Helene Schmidt of Germany. They married in China and traveled to Manila for the birth of their son. Returning to the USA, the family lived first in Chicago and moved to Seattle when John was in third grade. John loved learning. He graduated valedictorian of Lincoln High School in 1933 and was a member of the Lincoln Debate Team when they won the 1932 Seattle All-City Debate title. John loved music, playing violin as a child, and singing in choir much of his adult life. In the 1930s he served in the CCC's. He met Ethel Soehle at Greenlake Methodist Church; they married in 1938. John was hired at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, working as a draftsman during WWII. In 1947 he was hired by General Electric Co. at Hanford as a drafting supervisor and the family moved to Richland. He and Ethel were charter members of Northwest United Protestant Church and raised three children: Coralie, Jay John and Christi. At NWUP they participated in choir and served in many different capacities. They attended Community Concerts and theatre, were active in Richland Kennel Club, and provided college educations for their children. John retired when Ethel became seriously ill; she passed away in 1980. John married Alice Schreiber in 1981, gaining a new interest in camping along with a new extended family. Retirement also gave him the opportunity to finally attend college; he graduated with a major in Physics and minor in Astronomy from Whitman College in 1986. He joined the local astronomy club. John is pre-deceased by his first wife, Ethel Williamson, second wife Alice Schreiber, son John Harris Williamson, and sisters Mary Jeffs and Helene Kinsman. John has been a loving, gentle father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Martha; daughters Cory Mulligan-Kennewick and Christine Richard Reuther of Richland; grandchildren Tasia Mulligan Jeremy Hiebel-Lynnwood, Alexis Mulligan-Kennewick, Mathew Maaike Reuther-Amsterdam, Geoffrey Megan Reuther-Everett, and great-grandchildren August Sinclair Mulligan, Dakota Fox Soliel, Colton Hemy Reuther, and Ethan Gabriel Reuther. He is also survived by Alice's children: Nancy Willard, Janice Willard Eric Nilsson, David Willard, and seven grandchildren, as well as Martha's children: Donna Robert Whiteside, Robert Thorson, Karen Steve Benham, Kevin Terri Thorson, Jeff Lori Tate, Jon Tate, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am. Saturday, October 11 at Northwest United Protestant Church, 1312 Sacramento Blvd, Richland. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to NWUP or Tri-city Hospice.