Mr Roger Logan Williams

Roger Logan Williams was born September 2nd, 1941 in Bisbee, Arizona to Frances and Ardis Williams. He was the 4th of six siblings and grew up in Seal Beach, CA. Roger graduated from Huntington Beach High School as Valedictorian where he played on the football team and was part of a singing quartet. Roger continued his studies with a scholarship to Harvey Mudd College, where he continued singing and played rugby. He graduated in 1963 from Harvey Mudd with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and worked for Hewlett-Packard. Roger received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University in 1968. Roger married his first wife, Phyllis Tanzy Maxfield in 1964 and they ultimately settled in San Jose, CA where they welcomed daughters Stephanie and Neysa, and son Maxfield. 

After divorcing in 1974, Roger moved to Hawaii, working as a civil engineer and was an avid scuba diver—even operating a small dive shop.  Roger and his second wife, Ada (Mahler) married in 1976 and lived between Alaska and Hawaii, before settling in Bellevue, Washington, where Roger began his long career at Boeing as an Engineering Manager, working on important projects such as the 757, 767, 777, 787, and various satellite and weapons programs. Roger loved playing golf until his Parkinson’s diagnosis limited his ability to play. Roger played with the Duck Golf Association with many of his Boeing colleagues and enjoyed playing with he and Ada’s daughter, Ada Rose Mancusi (Williams).

After divorcing in 2000, Roger was reintroduced to his High School prom date Gwen (Birt). Gwen was a family friend from Seal Beach and sister to Sue Williams who married Roger’s brother Ardis. Roger and Gwen married and lived in Bellevue and Port Orchard, Washington before finally settling in Madera, CA where they have resided for the past 10 years. Roger and Gwen have been very involved with Grace Community Church and Roger was a member of the Gideons International. Roger enjoyed playing and regularly winning at cards and dominoes with family and friends. 

He will always be remembered for his kind and gentle demeanor, brilliance and ingenuity, his sense of humor, his love for everyone, and knowledge of “state laws”—Roger’s clever way of answering “why” questions from his children and grandchildren.  He will be greatly missed by his wife Gwen, children, grandchildren, family and friends.