In Memory: George Williams Jr.

George Williams Jr., a longtime friend of Pacific and a descendant of the university's longtime chairman of the Board of Trustees, has died at the age of 91.

He was born April 27, 1929, in Rainier, Ore., and grew up in The Dalles, Marshfield and Baker, Ore., and Walla Walla, Wash., where he attended Whitman College and married Laverne Kralman. He joined the dental practice of his uncle Alanson Hinman in Forest Grove, Ore., where he practiced for 37 years.

He was a longtime member of the Friends of Historic Forest Grove and served as a docent at Old College Hall on Pacific's Forest Grove Campus. He donated manuscripts and artifacts to the university archives and museum.

In Forest Grove, he built a home on the original Williams Family Donation Land Claim. His great-grandfather, Alanson Hinman Sr., was a founder and active member of the Forest Grove Congregational Church, which later became the Forest Grove United Church of Christ. Alanson Hinman Sr. was also a longtime president of the Pacific University Board of Trustees.

In 2016, the couple moved back to Walla Walla to be closer to family.

He is survived by his wife LaVerne; children Alan (Kim) Williams, Marcia (Roger) Kincaid, Kurt (Lillie) Williams, Jennie (Kurt) Smith; grandchildren: Ben (Kelly) Williams, Erin (Jake) Hughes, Sarah Williams, Ceo (Kim) Williams, Justin (Amanda) Williams, Jacynda (Andrew) Nerz, Katlyn (Troy) Hale, Cheyenne Smith, Cody Smith; and 17 great-grandchildren.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret Williams; brother, Arvid Williams, and one granddaughter, Emily Garcia.

Arrangements were handled by Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove.