Rev. Bertram David Williams Jr.'s Obituary
Rev. Bertram David Williams, age 90, passed away on May 2, 2024 at Kula Hospital, Maui, Hawaii. Dave was born September 5, 1933 in Osborne, Kansas to Bert and Dorothy Williams. He is survived by his
children, Jeffrey C. Williams (Sue), K. Lynn Evans, Denise A. Freese (Paul), his brother Dick Williams, sisters Marcia Ellis and Suzanne Wagner (Roger), and an extended family of nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jan Roberts, and his spouses, Patricia Williams Brockman and Susan Morrisson.
Dave graduated from Waukegan Township High School in 1951 and from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1955 with a BS in Agriculture, with a philosophy minor.
He was a missionary in the Philippines from 1955-58 and 1962-74. He began as an Agriculturist in northern
Luzon, and subsequently as Director of the Methodist Rural Center in Kidapawan, Cotabato. He initiated a
student ministry at Mindanao Institute of Technology in Kabacan.
Dave returned to the US to attend Garrett Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity in 1962, and then, with his family, sailed for the Philippines, where he was assigned to Lingayen, Pangasinan to serve as a missionary. He became the Director of the Mindanao Agricultural Resettlement Agency (MARA) of the
National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
From 1974-77 he served as the Agricultural Secretary for the Melanesian Council of Churches in Papua New Guinea. From 1977-79, he was a Development Consultant for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, assisting in the evaluation of projects related to world hunger, based in Naperville, Illinois and traveling widely (49 projects in 28 countries). From January 1980 to September 1982, Dave was the Coordinator of the Church and Society Program for the Pacific Conference of Churches in Suva, Fiji (during which time he visited 17 Pacific Island countries in the course of his work).
Dave continued to work in various capacities for the Board of Global Ministries, the National Council of
Churches, and the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church. He pastored churches in
Estacada and Portland (Oregon), and Sultan and Seattle (Washington).
Dave published several books, as well as family history journals that shared the results of his extensive
genealogy research. He was an avid photographer, car enthusiast, and enjoyed sailing and woodworking (his family will enjoy his many creations for years to come). He was an excellent singer, in a barbershop quartet as a young adult and in many church choirs.
After retirement, Dave relocated to Maui. He continued preaching occasionally at his beloved Makawao Union Church, in Maui, Hawaii, until the age of 90. He also enjoyed keeping up with world events, reading theology and fiction, watching PBS, and spending time with his family. He had a passion for global peace with justice throughout his life. He always encouraged and supported the activities and adventures of his family and friends. A rich treasury of friendships was his, as he kept in contact with friends around the world.
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10th, at Makawao Union Church. May he, who
lived his life in faith and service to God, rest from his labors and receive the blessing of eternal life
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