David Sanford Williamson of Atlanta, Georgia passed away on January 16, 2019. David was born in Palmyra, NY on March 20, 1922, son of Harry E. Williamson and Adella May Williamson. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Alice Van Schoonhoven, his second wife, Clara Knox (Knoxi) Nunnally Roberts, a step son, William Nunnally Roberts and a grandson in law, Daniel Patrick Stewart. He is survived by 2 step sons, James McMullan Roberts, Jr. (Susan) of St. Simons Island, GA and Roy Nunnally Roberts (Suzanne) of Monroe, GA. In addition, he leaves eight grandchildren – Catherine Nunnally Roberts Stewart, James McMullan Roberts, III, (Jeannie), Anne Knox Roberts Hodges (Allen), Marjorie Tate Roberts le Roux (Andre), Roy Nunnally Roberts, Jr., Marshall Polk Roberts (Shannon), Mary Lee Roberts, William Nunnally Roberts, Jr., and 13 great grandchildren.
David attended Palmyra Classical Union School, College of William and Mary, and Cornell University. Three days after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy and attended Navy Flight School to be designated an Ensign and Naval Aviator. He flew in Black Cat Squadron VP-11 in the Pacific Theater and in Bombing Squadron 103 in the European Theater. He captained his B-24 bomber on the first Navy mission on the submarine pens and the German submarines operating in the Bay of Biscay. At the conclusion of the European War he was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation reads, “Captain of aircraft; sorties 68, flying hours 631. Lt. Williamson has been engaged on anti-submarine air patrols for many months and has executed his duties with outstanding technical skill and gallantry. He has had frequent combats with superior numbers of aircraft, but these were fought off successfully on each occasion. This officer is a very efficient member of his squadron and has displayed great devotion to duty.” He also received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, 5 air medals, and the Navy Unit Citation.
A lifelong Republican, David served in the Eisenhower Administration as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and later as the first Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency. In the private sector, he was Assistant Secretary of Alaska Airlines, Vice President (Internal) of Servo Corporation of America, and President of Port Royal Plantation Company of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He then served in the Nixon Administration as Southeastern Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce. David was a member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. He was a member of the Olde Guarde of William & Mary, where he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. He was a former member of the Sodus Bay Yacht Club – Sodus Bay, New York; University Club of Rochester – Rochester, New York; Aviation Club – Washington, D.C.; Sea Pines, Port Royal, and Spanish Wells Golf Clubs – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Capital City Club, Mariners Mutual Investment Club (president), and American Legion Post #134 (Commander) – Atlanta, Georgia.
A memorial service for David will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019 at H.M. Patterson & Son- Spring Hill Chapel at 11:00 a.m., and the family will greet friends at that time. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to George Walton Academy, 1 Bulldog Drive, Monroe, GA 30655 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
This is a courtesy announcement of May & Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville, Georgia.