T. J. Williamson

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Our much beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, T. J. Williamson, age 96 years, died peacefully on Tuesday August 2, 2021, in Wichita, Kansas. Even though we mourn his death, we still want to celebrate his life with you.

His death will be solemnly felt by both his daughter Sheila K. Williamson, M.D., of Wichita, Kansas and his son Roger A. Keith of Omaha, Nebraska. Survivors also include his daughter-in-law Debra (Lackney) Keith, grandson Brian A. Keith (and great granddaughter Mackenzie N. Keith), and grandson Bradley J. Keith (with and wife Melissa Newburn Keith and new born son Owen Henry Keith) - all of Omaha. His wife of 57 years, Norma Jean (Keith) Williamson, preceded him in death in 2005. 

His nieces Kathyrn (Williamson) Sandridge of Springfield, Missouri, and Barbara (Williamson) Cox of Joplin, Missouri, also mourn the passing of this fine gentleman. In addition, he leaves many friends behind but even more friends are waiting for him to finally catch up with them.

T. J. Williamson was born December 21, 1924 to James Thomas and Edna (Andrews) Williamson in the miniscule town of Mulberry in Crawford County, Kansas; in a house owned by the railroad company for which his father worked. His father was a section foreman for the Kansas City Southern Railroad and his mother was a housewife. He was the seventh and last child born to this couple. All of his siblings preceded him in death: Opal Southard of Denver, Colorado; James Alfred Williamson of Baxter Springs, Kansas; Jewell Arnold of Tucson, Arizona; Elizabeth Virginia Gregory of Baxter Springs, Kansas; Aaron Jefferson Williamson of Ohio; and Raymond Williamson of Joplin, Missouri.

T.J. grew up in the farm country of Quaker Valley near Riverton, Cherokee County, Kansas, which was north of Baxter Springs, Kansas. He attended a two-room school house from the first grade through the eighth grade. There were 2 teachers and maybe 40 students in the whole school.

In 1942, at 17 years of age, he graduated from nearby Riverton High School in the middle of World War II. He was a very busy student in high school. He was in the Glee Club and the Chorus. He was even in an operetta when he was a sophomore. During high school, T.J. was a determined thespian and performed in each of his class plays. 

In 1939, as a freshman, he was “The Mysterious Visitor” in Gold Gulch. During his sophomore year, he played “Walt Manners, Kenyon’s College Chum” in Pigtails. As a junior, he played “Frank” in Rarin’ to Grow. Then in 1942, T.J. played out his senior year as “Dr. Ferdinand Fischer” in Aunt Tillie Goes to Sea. In addition, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He worked in shop class and made some beautiful pieces of furniture. These included a solid black walnut bed that he was sleeping in until he needed to go into a nursing home in February. 

As many patriotic students did during the war, T.J. bought Defense Stamps. There were 45 students who graduated with him from Riverton High School in 1942.

After high school, he enlisted in the military in the middle of World War II. He served in L Company of the 8th U.S. Army Regiment during World War II. The 8th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Fighting Eagles”, was an infantry regiment that participated in the Mexican War, American Civil War, Philippine Insurrection, Moro Rebellion, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, and the Iraq Campaign. He missed out on D-Day (the massive invasion of the Allies that was fought on the Normandy beaches against Hitler’s Nazi Reich on June 6, 1944). But he was quickly trained and served as an infantryman in France, Luxembourg, and Germany. 

He was a veteran of the great Battle of the Bulge and many other battles as his military unit fought against Hitler’s forces in southern Germany (the Rhineland). He was fighting near Munich when Hitler’s Germany was defeated and peace was finally declared in Europe on May 8, 1945 (VE Day). 

After the war in the European theater ended, he was promptly returned to the United States for further military training to prepare for the final invasion of Japan and, hopefully, peace in the Pacific. Luckily, the United States managed to wrestle Japan down to its knees and the war finally came to a close after two atomic bomb blasts in Japan. T.J. was able to avoid having to go the Pacific Theater to fight the rest of our Axis enemies as VJ day was proclaimed on August 15, 1945.

During World War II, he was awarded several medals including:

· World War II Victory Medal: Awarded to all members of the U.S. military who served in active duty during the period of December 7, 1940 to December 31, 1946.
· American Campaign Medal: Awarded to service members to recognize their military service in the American Theater of Operations during World War II.
· The European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal: Awarded to recognize his service performed in the European Theater during the years of World War II.
· Combat Infantry Badge: Awarded to infantrymen in the rank of colonel and below who were under fire during active ground combat.
· Honorable Service Lapel Pin: Awarded to soldiers who were discharged under honorable conditions during World War II.
· Good Conduct Medal: Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service.
· Presidential Unit Citation: Awarded to all of the soldiers in the 8th Infantry Regiment for their actions in D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. It is awarded for “Gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.”
· Belgian Fourragere: Awarded to the 8th Infantry Regiment for its action in the Belgian Ardennes (the Battle of the Bulge).

He was discharged from the Army in 1946 as a clerk typist with a rank of Sergeant.

After World War II, he returned home and married Norma Jean Keith in 1948. The couple was married for 57 years until Jean’s death in 2005. T.J. went to work for the Spencer Chemical Company north of Riverton, Kansas. He worked on the railroad train crews at the plant site. He was the train engineer when he retired. Spencer Chemical had been sold several times with T.J. eventually retiring from the Chevron Oil Company.
Due to illness, he moved from Baxter Springs, Kansas to Wichita in 2005. After the death of his wife in 2005, he continued to live with his daughter in Wichita where he managed to make a whole new group of friends. He found new buddies to meet at McDonalds for their morning coffee.

T.J. only had initials for his given names. He was the son of James Thomas Williamson and the grandson of both Thomas James Williamson and Thomas James Andrews. His parents only used the initials when naming their youngest child. T.J. had some difficulty and much fun over the years with the initials. He repeatedly made-up names to go with the initials with Thomas Jefferson being the most common (although he usually added an esquire to the end). He was always quick with a joke or a funny story, and he was always a tease. He seemed to know everyone in at least a four-county area. It also seemed that he must have dated half the women in this area when he was a young man. When younger, T.J. enjoyed baseball, bowling, and water skiing. He bowled in many different local leagues. He boated and water skied with his family and friends for many years. He maintained his cars and we still remember (and have fond memories of) the 1957 Chevy Impala and the 1964 Chevy Impala that was maroon with a black interior. We also remember that he wouldn’t let us drive until we learned how to change a flat tire, change the oil, wash the car and then give it a good two coats of hand polish. He was a good general craftsman and usually did any type of repair work on his home. Until he went into a hospice nursing facility, he slept in the solid black walnut bed that he made in high school. He was always going to volunteer to help if you had a project - and he was usually going to be helpful.
T.J. began to have memory deficit problems which worsened over time. This caused him significant despair because his memory had always been one thing he could trust. He was certainly aware that his memory was failing. He did very well in the nursing home that he went into. Harry Hynes Hospice helped place him and continued to care for him while he was in the nursing home. He ate well, socialized well, and certainly enjoyed their cookie and coffee hour.
His memorial services will be at his daughter’s home in Wichita and at Derfelt Funeral Home in Baxter Springs, Kansas on dates to be determined. T.J. Williamson will be buried in the Baxter Springs Cemetery next to his parents and his wife. Please feel free to come and share your memories at this celebration of his life.

We’ll always remember you Dad because
they’ll never be another one to replace you in our hearts,
and the love we will always have for you.