South Royalton, VT – This is a photo of Warren when he was 100 years old and working at his favorite hobby bailing hay. A truly one-of-a-kind man, Warren Elmer Williams, an amazing 102 years old, died peacefully at his home, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Born on the farm in Rosedale, Long Island, NY, April 29, 1921, one of two children of Elmer and Helen (Gronbach) Williams, Warren learned early the lessons of hard work and the value of education. His parents and sibling moved from Rosedale in a horse-drawn wagon to their new farm in Manorville. He graduated from Eastport High School in Eastport, Long Island, New York in 1939. Warren was dedicated to his father's farm and worked side by side with his dad all through high school and well after graduation, even while he held a full-time job. Upon graduation, Warren worked for the Long Island Railroad and joined the Army Air Force, sworn in on August 31, 1942, and flew with the 14th Air Force Division Flying Tigers. He was a flight engineer with the Chinese American Composite Wing under Major General Claire Lee Chennault, who led the fight against the Japanese during World War II. Warren's service during that period was nothing short of heroic. On only his fifth bombing mission his plane and its crew took heavy fire and was nearly torn apart during a bombing run over China. With a large section of the rear tail wing destroyed, every window blown out from flack and a near fatally wounded pilot, his plane miraculously made it back to base. He later said every man on that plane completely expected to perish that day, it was the scariest day of his life and he vowed that once his service to our country was completed he would never fly again. Warren flew another twenty-three missions following that unforgettable day. He was honorably discharged January 17, 1946. A man of his word, kept the vow he made to himself and took the transport ship, The Scott, across the ocean into Seattle Washington, and then a cross-county train to Fort Dix, NJ and for the next eighty years of his life he never, ever flew on a plane again.

Following the War, Warren took a position at Brook Haven Nation Laboratory in the machine shop and soon after joined the reactor group. He worked there for the next twenty-one years operating three different nuclear rectors; The Medical Research Reactor, Graphite Research Reactor, and the Hy-flux Beam Reactor. At that time employees worked what they called the DuPont Schedule which meant one-week dayshift, the following week second shift, and then a week of third shift. There was at one point during this schedule that Warren went from one shift with a minimum amount of time off, right into the next shift. A grueling schedule and all while still tending to the daily chores on the family farm. On April 12, 1948, he married his sweetheart, Catherine "Kitty" in Albany, NY. They honeymooned in the New York area and then in Woodstock, VT and Brattleboro, VT . He fell in love with the Vermont county side and told his new bride he was going to buy a farm in Green Mountain State. She said he was "full of sh…..t". In 1964 and with five kids in tow he did just that. For the first five years, he and the family would travel up from Long Island to the "old Northroup Farm" known as the Long Meadow farm, in South Royalton, VT, a beautiful 135-acre piece along the banks of the White River. Once here they would put up hay and work on the property. In 1969 they made the final move and settled into what is now his current home.

For the next fifty-four years Warren worked, lived, and loved his farm. Warren's hobbies was working on the farm, raising his family, running the saw mill and caring for his animals. His reputation preceded him. He was featured in WCAX program "Super Seniors" and written about in the Valley News.

The unfortunate thing about living as long as he did is that Warren outlived most of his friends and family. Warren was the last surviving member of his high school Class. Besides his loving wife of sixty-four years, he was also predeceased by five children, Barbara, Roger, Dorothy, Edward, and Karen Caron, a brother, Edward Williams and sister in law, Laura Rafuse.

Warren is survived by two sons, Dale Williams and his wife, Judy of South Royalton, VT, and Ward Williams also of South Royalton, daughters, Cheryl Fleming and her husband, Fred of Plainfield, NH, Rochel Jones and her husband Erwin of Tunbridge, VT, fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and three great, great grandchildren. Also survived by son-in-law Gary Caron of South Royalton, VT , sister-in-law, Alma Williams of Manorville, Long Island as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday evening, June 27th, from 6-8PM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT. A graveside service will be held at a later date in the Brookfield Cemetery in Manorville, Long Island, NY.

Condolences to his family may be left at an online guest book at www.knightfuneralhomes.com

The Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT is honored to be assisting the Williams family with arrangements.