Donald "Don" James Williams

Donald James Williams of Burnet, Texas was called home by our Heavenly Father August 19, 2024 at the age of 94. Don was born March 20, 1930 to parents James A. Williams and Sadie E. Yost Williams in Scott Township, Allegheney County, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters Ruth A. Davis, Frances E. May, Lois E. Bateman, Marilyn J. Frasinelli, and his first wife, the mother of his children, Caroline M. Lyda Williams. He was also preceded in death by three of his six children, Sandra J. Vantromp, Thomas J. Williams, and Beverly D. Quinones.

Don grew up in nearby Carnegie, Pennsylvania (a Pittsburgh suburb), attended Shawhan School and faithfully attended the Carnegie United Presbyterian Church with his family. It was in Carnegie that his lifelong love for America's game, BASEBALL, was spawned. With no organized youth baseball program available at the time he and a group of neighborhood friends organized their own team to challenge and play similar teams in other neighborhoods and townships nearby. They cleaned up and improvised a baseball field on a vacant lot at the end of his street where they practiced and played some of their games. After all his buddies chose the positions they wanted to play the only unfilled position was pitcher, so Don said, “I guess I will be the pitcher.” Thus began the pitching career of Don “Lefty” Williams. Don continued as a southpaw pitcher through high school and notably, at 17, pitched two no-hitters for the Senior League East Carnegie Baseball Club, drawing the attention of major league scouts. Shortly thereafter, he signed a contract with the National League, New York Giants. After Spring training, the Giants sent the young recruit to their Phoenix farm club playing in the Arizona-Texas League. His manager, Don Trower, was so impressed with his new pitcher, he put young Williams on the mound as the hurler for the season opener. [Traded?] In 1950 he signed with the Cleveland Indians and spent his first season with the Class D, Enterprise, Alabama, Bollweevils, posting a personal 8-8 record on the successful campaign to secure the Alabama State League Pennant. Poor minor league pay, the looming Korean Peninsula problem, and a new wife led Don to join the United States Air Force. He was sent to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, for basic training and spent the remaining tour of duty there primarily as a pitcher for the Armed Forces League Lackland AFB Warhawks, though he remained property of the Cleveland, Indians. He compiled a “brilliant” 72-12 record for the Warhawks in his 3 years, including a 1-1 pitching dual record against Don Newcombe (Brooklyn Dodger chunker) who played for the Brooke Army Medical Center Comets at the time.

At the end of his enlistment, now with the addition of two sons to his family, Don determined he would like to remain in Texas, if possible. The general manager of the Big State League, Austin Pioneers, Dutch Lorbeer, was friends with Hank Greenberg of the Cleveland Indians and secured a release to allow Don to join the Austin team. Unfortunately, financial problems and declining attendance due to competition from televised major league baseball dramatically undermined the success of minor league baseball everywhere and the Austin Pioneers folded two years later. Soon after, Don Williams joined the marketing team at Von Boeckmann-Jones Company. He continued his devotion to baseball as a coach for youth teams in Austin for many years. Some of his Babe Ruth League players went on to major league careers.

Don stayed in the general office supplies and commercial printing sales field and often traveled to service clients throughout Central and South Texas for the remainder of his professional life. In addition to coaching baseball through the years Don developed a habit of writing down inspirational philosophical or spiritual observations about life he often passed on to friends and family he wanted to encourage through challenges in their lives. As a young boy he admired the consistent work ethic and unyielding sense of responsibility for his family he saw in his father. Those attributes became the blueprint for his own attitude and relationships throughout his life. Not only did he take seriously his roll as father to six children but also a lifelong keen interest in his four sister's children. He personified the integrity a real man should possess for his children, nieces, nephews, friend's children, and countless young men who played baseball coached by Donald James Williams.

On November 28, 1980 Don married Patsy R. Deel Dennis of Burnet, Texas and they made their home in Burnet. He continued his employment marketing office supplies and printing and commuted to Austin daily until he retired, over twenty five years later.

Don is survived by his wife, Pat Williams; his surviving three children; son Gary A. Williams; daughter Debra L. Barrick, her husband Billy B. Barrick; daughter Denise L. Williams Berry; four step children: Warren A. Dennis, his wife Karen D. Dennis, Glenda G. Orman, her husband Cody L. Orman; Cheryl A. Smith, her husband Mitchell C. Smith; Kevin R. Dennis. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald "Don" James Williams, please visit our floral store.