Donna J. Williams

Donna J. Williams
February 23, 1938 – June 28, 2018

Donna J. Williams, age 80, went to be with her Lord on June 28, 2018. She was a resident of Colorado Springs, including being stationed at Ent AFB in the late 50s. She was later reassigned to headquarters NORAD and retired here.

Donna was born in Lafayette, Colorado on February 23, 1938 to Daniel and Marcella Williams (Cruise). Her family later moved to Black Diamond, Washington where she grew up. She graduated from Enumclaw High School in Enumclaw, Washington and later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

She served with pride for 24 and a half years in the United States Air Force where she attained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. Most of her Air Force career was in air operations.

She was the first woman to be assigned as an air operations specialist in a fighter squadron. Being the only woman was a challenge, but she mastered it.

Her assignments included Ent AFB, McChord AFB, Hickam AFB Hawaii, Wright Patterson AFB, Utapau AFB Thailand, Duluth and finally NORAD where she retired in January of 1980.

Donna was a very compassionate person and loved all that walked the Earth. There wasn’t a day when she was in the public that she didn’t talk to a small child or their parents or older adults. She loved trying to get someone to smile and that a kind word might brighten their day. She also wouldn’t kill a bug or insect of any kind. When there used to be an infestation of Miller Moths in the house she would catch them in her hands and carry them outside and set them free.

She leaves behind a loving wife, Carol LaLonde, of only 2 ½ years, but a relationship that has withstood the test of time for 60 years. She is also survived by her sisters, Wendy Johnson and Kathy Compton. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother and sister. She has several cousins in Pueblo and Tacoma, Washington.

Funeral service will be held at Shrine of Remembrance on July 5 at 1 p.m. There will be a viewing at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Donna’s name.