John T. “J. T.”  Williams, 88, of Lumberton, died Friday, March 19, 2010, in Lumberton.

A native of Hemphill, TX, J. T. lived in the Lumberton area for fifty-one years and was a retired Supervisor for Gulf States Utilities where he worked for 39 years.  He served his country in the United States Air Force during World War II, flying 88 missions over the south Pacific and Europe, as a top turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart medal.  After the war, he returned to Texas where he met and married Betty Jane Barrow. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Williams; children, Diane Williams of Beaumont, Nelda Williams of San Francisco, and Art Williams and his wife Terri of Lumberton; grandchildren, Jonathan Williams of Lumberton and Erica Lux and her husband Roger of Chattanooga, TN.; great granddaughter, Alice Lux; and seven surviving siblings, Rachel Huffman, Ila Mae Gunter, Joyce Vasterling, Irma Jarratt, Libby Davis, Lester Williams, and Chester Williams.  

J. T. was preceded in death by his parents, R. T. and Libby Williams; brother, Mark; and sisters, Evelyn and Betty Jo.

During his life, J. T. actively served his church and community in many ways, including at various times, President of the Lumberton school board, Mayor of Rose Hill Acres, a Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Loeb, and a Mason.  In retirement, he traveled to Belize where he helped construct a church; he also enjoyed gardening, hunting in Utah and fishing trips to Sam Rayburn Lake with his son Art and Lynn Mason.

A memorial service will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, March 22, 2010, at First Baptist Loeb, 3082 Hwy 69 South, Lumberton under the direction of Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee.

In lieu of flowers, J. T. would be proud to have donations made in his name to the church’s building fund.