Thomas Moore Williams Jr.; he loved the Shore

THOMAS Moore Williams Jr. was never happier than when he was running his 19-foot fishing boat through the inland channel to the ocean in Atlantic City, fishing tackle at the ready, and his eager grandchildren often at his side.

"He loved the Shore," said his daughter, Makeela Guy. "It was his life."

Thomas deserved some relaxation after 35 years at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and 35 years battling prostate cancer.

"He fought it tooth and nail," his daughter said. "He was a survivor. He used to say he would be around for his 90th birthday."

He didn't miss it by much. Thomas died Friday and would have turned 90 on July 8. He lived in Atlantic City and previously lived in Wynnefield.

Thomas was born in Philadelphia the fourth of the seven children of Thomas M. and Makeela Osgood Ward Williams. He was a graduate of Central High School.

He married Ruth Frances Gregg on May 10, 1940.

Thomas entered the Army in 1944, during World War II. After serving stateside, he was discharged in 1946 with the rank of staff sergeant.

He was proud of a letter from President Harry Truman thanking him for his service.

Thomas started at the Navy Yard as a welder and worked his way up to welding inspector. He was supervisor of Shop 11 at the yard for 19 years before his retirement in 1975.

He had a house in Atlantic City and he moved there shortly after his wife died in 1986. The inland channel ran behind his property, and he liked to crab in its waters and use it as the way to the ocean.

He got a kick out of entertaining family and friends, enjoying the grandkids and eventually great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids.

Thomas had a passion for learning and was an avid reader, including history and current events.

"He was very knowledgeable," his daughter said. "For a man with a high-school education, he was very intelligent and curious about the world.

"I'll bet he had 50,000 copies of National Geographic. He knew all about the world and world happenings."

Thomas was a founding member of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's retiree association, and was a past master of J.C. Price Lodge 82 of the Masonic Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

"Both organizations were near and dear to his heart," his daughter said.

Besides his daughter, he is survived by a son, Thomas Williams III; a sister, Vivian Council; a brother, Wendell Williams; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren, and his companion, Adeline Oliphant.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church, 57th and Summer streets. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Eden Cemetery, Collingdale.