In Loving Memory of Teddy (Ted) Thomas Williams
Teddy was born to Eugene (Gene) and Ella Williams of Milwaukie, Oregon on a snowy winter night, December 20, 1946, in Oregon City, Oregon. He was greeted with open arms by his brother Larry Williams 10 years older and his sister, Linda Williams 4 ½ years older. He passed away on Saturday night, August 6, 2022, at age 75 in Meridian Park Hospital, Tualatin, Oregon. The date of his death was significant because it is the birthday of his deceased brother, Larry Williams.
Teddy met Lynne Cole the love of his life his junior year at Clackamas High school. Our dear neighbor Laurie Bellman was in a class with Lynne and was aware that she was new to the school. Laurie introduced herself to Lynne and told her she would take her around and introduce her to a few people. When Laurie and Lynne left German class that day they ran into Teddy in the hall. Both Ted and Lynne had an immediate attraction at the time, but it took Teddy 6 months to ask her out. They became an item and never looked back.
After high school Teddy joined the Merchant Marines for a couple of years while Lynne went to beauty school. Shortly after they were engaged, Ted went to barber school. After he graduated from barber school, he worked at Oak Grove Barber Shop for Paul Quintana. Lynne and Ted were married October 1967 in Milwaukie, Oregon and were married for nearly 55 years prior to his death. Together they built a happy, full life.
Lynne and Ted were blessed with 4 wonderful children. Brent Charles Williams, Kari Nichole Williams (Kendall Robinson), Tye Marie Ingram (Tom), and Kirk Thomas Williams, (Samantha). They all live within twenty minutes of Lynne and Ted.
Lynne and Ted have 7 grandchildren, Briana Margaret Norton, Rebekkah Lynne Williams, Austin Thomas Jones, Zakary Gage Williams, Blakely Ann Williams, Sydney Ella Rae Williams, and Easton Thomas Williams. They also have 4 great grandchildren, Natalie Janae Jones, Adalinn Beverly Rae Kohle, Easton James Kohle, and Wallace (Wally) Daniel Spurgeon.
Ted is survived by his wife, all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his sister Linda Rae Williams of Vancouver Washington. His older brother Larry Lee Williams preceded him in death by 20 years. He also is survived by his mother-in-law, Colleen Mackin of Milwaukie, sister-in-law, Harriet Lee Benson of Tigard, and three nephews, Troy Eugene Williams (Kimberly) of Beaverton, Todd James Williams of Lake Oswego, Scott Allen Williams, (Peggy), of Wilsonville, niece Shelley Williams, Lake Oswego, and 6 great nieces and nephews, plus a great, great nephew.
Kari has fond memories with her dad camping and fishing off a raft up at Timothy Lake. Teddy also taught her how to ride a horse and they would go on rides together. Kari still loves camping to this day, horses not so much (see below)!
Tye got her love of baking and cooking from her dad. She remembers her mom and sister would go to clogging class and Tye would stay home with her dad (and probably Kirk) and they would bake butter cookies together. Tye said they would eat them afterward so there would not be any evidence!
Teddy's career took a big turn. While he worked as a barber, he would work part time for his brother Larry's exterminating Company, United Exterminating and after several years he and a partner, Tom Linke bought Larry out of the business. After just a few years of running the business together his partner passed away suddenly leaving the business insurance money to Teddy to own and operate the business by himself which he did until he retired.
Every year for Christmas Teddy always asked for a horse. Dad would say, "honey we don't have room for a horse, and it is way too expensive to board one." It didn't stop him from asking year-after-year. One Christmas Mom and Dad bought him an archery set with a bale of hay for the target. When Teddy saw that bale of hay, he just knew he was getting the horse! Much to his disappointment and surprise there was no horse. He was one disappointed kid. After Lynne and Ted got married Dad gave Teddy some money toward his horse. Teddy's friend, Gary Keller's dad had a ¾ Arabian for sale that Teddy was finally able to buy. Teddy could ride in Keller's pasture and board it there until they had a place of their own that could support a horse. The horse was named Razon and was not trained that well and the first pop out of the box Ted fell off with one foot still in the stirrup, and the horse drug him around the pasture with a broken knee. Somehow, Teddy managed to get the horse back in the paddock and was able to drive his car home with a stick shift. He was in a cast for several months. Even after all of that, he still loved his horse! However, the family went up to Zig Zag with another family to a horse camp. Brent and Lynne were each on a horse and Kari was sitting in front of Teddy in the saddle when Razon lost his footing going down a wet trail and the horse rolled and fell. Brent grabbed Kari from Razon so quick, and nobody got hurt. It scared everyone so badly that Teddy never rode again. Linda's dear friend, Karen Randall was given a pony and she gave it to Teddy for the kids. That pony was pretty much it for Teddy and the family.
Teddy also had a love for fishing, hunting, cooking, and baseball. He would spend hours over the years catching Kirk's pitches until they got too hot to handle. Lynne and Ted loved going to the games. Lynne would keep score and most of the family also attended.
Every chance Teddy could get he would also go fishing. I think that was his real passion. He met Iral Harmon through their son's baseball game. Iral was sitting alone in the bleachers in the middle of the field and Teddy strolled out and introduced himself. Iral's twin boys, Anthony and Arlan, and Kirk were on the same team. They started talking and of course the baseball conversation soon turned to fishing and hunting. Iral and his wife Launa became friends with Lynne and Ted. Both guys loved to hunt and fish, and, in the winter, on most Friday nights the four of them would play cards at Launa and Iral's and Teddy would cook one of his delicious meals.
In his early years Teddy hunted deer and elk on horseback with bow and arrow with his good friend, Chris Muhleman. Chris had just moved to Oregon City and went down to Carver Park. After catching a steelhead Chris joined a man by a campfire. That man was Teddy and they discovered they were neighbors and became best friends. After a good day's hunt, Chris and Teddy spent endless hours around the campfire trading stories. Teddy later turned to hunting with rifles, but he always loved the sport of bow and arrow. Chris moved away which made their time together less frequent, but they never gave up on their friendship.
Teddy and Iral would do all the food shopping for hunting and would go up early to the Ukiah and Starkey area to set up camp for their 8 friends. Later, when Ted had trouble walking, he would still go up with the guys but would spend some of the day preparing their wonderful meals. He just loved being out with them and they all loved him and his cooking.
After Lynne and Ted retired, they bought a travel trailer and took a few trips with a friend Ginger that Lynne met at work and her significant other Doug. Ginger and Doug had their own trailer, and the four of them would all get together in the evening to play cards. By the time Teddy bought the trailer he was already having trouble walking so they didn't have too many adventures but enjoyed places they had not seen.
Teddy was a wonderful brother. One time Teddy and I got into Dad's cigarettes. After he taught me how to roll one, we smoked it. Afterward, Teddy told me to put everything right back where dad had it so dad could not catch us. However, I was having too much fun outside, so I stuffed the cigarette paraphernalia under a ledge in the garage. Of course, when dad got home his cigarettes were missing. He would never have thought his darling daughter was the culprit, so Teddy got the spanking. Teddy took it like a trouper and dad never knew because Teddy didn't rat on me. That is one fantastic brother!
Ted was loved by everyone who met him. His quick wit with one-liners was a Teddy trademark. He was soft spoken with a wonderful sense of humor.
Rest in Peace Dear Teddy. You will be so missed. We love you.

Teddy's children invite family and friends to A Celebration of Life Open House on Saturday, October 8, 2022, between 11:00 and 3:00. It will be held at a private home at the following address: 531 Charman Street, Oregon City, OR 97045.