Richard Dean Williams

In Memory of Richard Dean Williams May 28, 1934 - January 18, 2026 Richard Dean Williams passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 91. He was born on May 28, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the second child in the family of Robert Cullen Williams and Elva Christiansen, a family he cherished deeply. Richard attended Irving Junior High School in the Sugar House District and graduated from South High School in 1952. He later graduated from Utah State University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic society and an outstanding Air Force ROTC graduate in 1956. Following graduation, Richard began his professional career as a project engineer with the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc. In 1957, having received a commission as a Second Lieutenant, he left civilian life to serve in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. After his military service, he returned to California to work with Rocketdyne, and later transferred to North American Rockwell in Washington, D.C. He earned his MBA from American University in 1969, graduating Magna Cum Laude. After completing his MBA, Richard transitioned into residential construction and housing, founding American Home Industries Corporation in California. He later moved to Connecticut, where he founded Contempra Homes, and throughout his career he consulted with various companies and individuals. His professional life was marked by versatility, vision, and a steadfast work ethic that earned him respect across multiple industries. Religion and spirituality were central pillars in Richard's life. His faith in Jesus Christ provided him with strength and purpose throughout his earthly journey. Beyond his career, Richard had a deep passion for genealogy, devoting countless hours to exploring family lineages, historical narratives, and stories that connected generations. He also loved history, painting, and traveling. Richard lived in many states, including Utah, California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He also lived and worked in Russia, where he helped build a development in the Moscow region for Westerners working there. He visited 35 of the 50 United States and traveled extensively abroad, including England, France, Spain, Switzerland, Greece and the Greek Islands, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Caribbean Islands, many of them multiple times. In his journal, Richard wrote: "I have always made a good living and have been comfortable most of my life, usually never wanting or desiring anything that I couldn't have. The Lord has been extremely kind to me and my family, for which I am very grateful. I enjoy working and I enjoy what I do. I think that one of the most important things for a man to achieve is happiness in going to work and doing something that is satisfying and fulfilling. I also enjoy reading and have an extensive library. I often read over 60 books a year and especially enjoy history as well as good novels." Richard is survived by his wife, Irina Williams; his daughter, Christine Bradford Williams; his son, Jeffrey Lee Williams (Carol); his younger brother, Stephen Glenn Williams; and his loving grandchildren and great- grandchildren.