Dr. Benjamin T. Williams,Jr. of Placida passed away at his home Oct. 16.
Born Jan. 25, 1931. in Bartlesville, Okla., to Benjamin T. and Edna Williams, he attended Washington University, St. Louis, and graduated from University of Oklahoma's Medical School.
He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Nav, stationed at San Diego Naval Hospital.
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Williams served as pathologist and director of laboratories for Mercy Hospital of Champaign-Urbana, Ill., from 1962-2001.
He established the Regional Health Resource Center and Blood Bank in Urbana, served on the founding team for the University of Illinois Medical School at Champaign-Urbana, and was department head of Pathology.
Williams was a founding member of several medical societies, including the International Health Evaluation Association, the Society for Advanced Medical Systems (later American Medical Informatics Association and the American College of Medical Informatics.
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In lieu of flowers, offerings may be made for Mass intentions for the repose of his soul, or financial contributions may be made for the establishment of the Library Fund at Our Lady of Mercy Church, P.O. Box 181, Boca Grande, FL, 33921.
He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Among his many scientific publications was the two-volume "Clinical Aids to Medical Decision Making."
Williams was received into the Roman Catholic faith in 1951 and was awarded the Papal Knighthood of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II during the Great Jubilee Year of 2000.
Williams is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Ann, and eight children: Monica, Marcia, Marie, Mark, Grace, Magdalene, Richard, and Sarah. He was preceded in death by a brother, Roger, and a sister, Virginia Odom.
A funeral Mass was said at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Boca Grande Oct. 20 with burial at Venice Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, offerings may be made for Mass intentions for the repose of his soul, or financial contributions may be made for the establishment of the Library Fund at Our Lady of Mercy Church, P.O. Box 181, Boca Grande, FL, 33921.
