Obituary of Stanley Dell Williams

Services will be held Tuesday, May 7th for life-long Santa Cruz resident and local business leader Stanley Dell Williams who passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, April 28, 2013. Born March 1, 1921 to Florence and Dell Williams at their home in Santa Cruz, Stan's full, rich life was devoted to family, community, and country. In his youth, Stan attended Gault and Branciforte schools, played on the neighborhood Pine Street Tigers baseball team, and graduated from Chaminade High in 1939. His college days at St. Mary's were interrupted by World War II; he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a navigator bombardier with bomber squadron VMB 612. Stan's marriage of 64 years to Mary Joan Gates was a union of two devoted and kindred spirits. After the war, Stan joined his family's business, Dell Williams Jewelers, a Downtown institution that has endured the Depression, the flood of 1955, and the earthquake of 1989. Stan became the driving force and heart and soul of Dell Williams, and generations of customers enjoyed Stan's personal professionalism and charm. Even with his considerable time and energy devoted to the family business, he and Joan were gracious hosts to many -- their dining room and backyard pool were the scenes of countless parties and celebrations. Stan and Joan traveled extensively -- to Super Bowls, the Cayman Islands and other tropical destinations, business conclaves and conventions, and until recently, the reunions of Stan's USMC squadron. Stan loved sports and attended numerous little league, high school, and college games of his children and grandchildren. He was an active voice, continually contributing to his community: one of the founding members of Marello Preparatory High School, a member of the Planning Commission, a life member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge. Stan loved oysters on the half-shell, a good martini, and anything sweet. From Duarte's to Deer Park, Stan relished a good time out with his beloved Joan and extended family. His final years of life were spent with family around him (children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren), visits from friends and neighbors, lots of music, and his dear dog Della constantly at his side. Stan is preceded in death by his wife, who passed away in April of 2012, his daughter, Sue, and his brother Tom. Stan is survived by daughters Cindy (Terry) and Sally (Ed), sons Peter (Mary Ann) and Joe (Sheri), sixteen grandchildren - Emily (Ryan) and Brody; Sean, Drew, and Beth; Keith and Keanon; Tyler (Tina), Trevor, Joel, and Janna; Katrina, Jesse, Spencer, Malena, and Jennifer, and four great-grandchildren - Brooklyn, Jameson, Daisy and Dominic. The family wishes to thank VNA and Hospice of Santa Cruz and extends a special thanks to Rosa Martinez for her smiles and compassionate care. A memorial mass will be celebrated in Stan's memory on Tuesday, May 7th at 10 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 Soquel Dr., Aptos. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Stan's memory to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066.