February 15, 2020 at 6:12 a.m.
Ted Williamson
June 3, 1945-Jan. 27, 2020
After festive mid-month January trips to Montreal and New York City, enjoying theater and the joyful, loving company of his wife, Ted Martin Williamson passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours on Jan. 27, 2020, at his home in Barnard, Vermont.
Ted devoted his entire professional life to serving his nation. He devoted his retired life to serving the local community of Barnard and beyond. While his passing is a great loss for his friends, loved ones and community, his life is one to be celebrated. Ted enjoyed the riches of life amid the laughter of friends.
Ted was born on June 3, 1945, son of Wendell Williamson and Gwendolyn Martin Williamson (Gwen McDaniel). He grew up in Portland, Indiana, and graduated as valedictorian of Portland High School in 1963, and from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1967, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and concert band.
Ted served with distinction in the U.S. Army with the 77th Armored Cavalry during the Vietnam War. After his return from Vietnam, he finished and graduated cum laude from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, Illinois. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Ted married Fadia Fayad in 1977. He and Fadia served in overseas postings with the U.S. Army, first in Iran, and, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, they went on to serve together in Saudi Arabia for the remainder of Ted’s career.
In 1978, he took an attorney position as director of contracts for the Iranian Aircraft Program in Tehran, Iran. In the fall of 1979, Ted became chief counsel for the Engineer Logistics Command in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In March 1981, he became chief counsel for the OPM-SANG (Office of the Program Manager for the Saudi Arabian National Guard), then in 1991, along with being chief counsel, he became chief of staff of OPMSANG. In addition to his distinguished uniform service, Ted was a U.S. Army Civil Servant for over 30 years.
Ted and Fadia retired in Barnard, Vermont, which Ted described as “absolutely bucolic in its setting and natural beauty.” Ted had been a leader in Saudi Arabia’s large expatriate community, applying his interest and skills in community organizations, and he and Fadia quickly immersed themselves in their local Vermont community. Ted helped establish and develop BarnArts Center of the Arts in Barnard, serving on the board until his death and as board chair for several years. Ted took great pleasure in enhancing cultural opportunities locally. His work with BarnArts was rewarding and what he considered “great fun!”
Ted loved music, which spoke to him deeply. He spent much of his life listening to music and seeking out great performances in diverse genres. He loved the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, also jazz, cabaret and more. Ted loved books from an early age and had an extensive collection of books and music. Theater was another great passion of his. In recent years he and Fadia frequented the Williamstown Theater Festival each summer, where he enjoyed seeing new and developing productions.
Ted is survived by his wife, Fadia Fayad Williamson of Barnard, Vermont. He will be greatly missed by his relatives and many friends all around the world. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Saiid Y. Fayad (wife: Melissa); nephew Rumzie S. Fayad (wife: Sarah), nephew, Joseph S. Fayad, and nephew, Samuel S. Fayad; grandniece, Sofia Fayad; grandnephew, Sam Fayad; and his many cousins and aunt.
Ted was predeceased by his father, Wendell Williamson, in 1972; and his mother, Gwen McDaniel in 2018.
A celebration of life for Ted M. Williamson will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2020, starting at noon at the First Universalist Church and Society of Barnard, 6211 Vermont 12, Barnard, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to BarnArts for the Ted Williamson Fund (“BarnArts”) BarnArts Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 41, Barnard, VT 05031 (barnarts.org) or ArtsPlace, 131 E. Walnut St, P.O. Box 804, Portland, IN 47371 (artsland.org).
Ted devoted his entire professional life to serving his nation. He devoted his retired life to serving the local community of Barnard and beyond. While his passing is a great loss for his friends, loved ones and community, his life is one to be celebrated. Ted enjoyed the riches of life amid the laughter of friends.
Ted was born on June 3, 1945, son of Wendell Williamson and Gwendolyn Martin Williamson (Gwen McDaniel). He grew up in Portland, Indiana, and graduated as valedictorian of Portland High School in 1963, and from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1967, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and concert band.
Ted served with distinction in the U.S. Army with the 77th Armored Cavalry during the Vietnam War. After his return from Vietnam, he finished and graduated cum laude from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, Illinois. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Ted married Fadia Fayad in 1977. He and Fadia served in overseas postings with the U.S. Army, first in Iran, and, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, they went on to serve together in Saudi Arabia for the remainder of Ted’s career.
In 1978, he took an attorney position as director of contracts for the Iranian Aircraft Program in Tehran, Iran. In the fall of 1979, Ted became chief counsel for the Engineer Logistics Command in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In March 1981, he became chief counsel for the OPM-SANG (Office of the Program Manager for the Saudi Arabian National Guard), then in 1991, along with being chief counsel, he became chief of staff of OPMSANG. In addition to his distinguished uniform service, Ted was a U.S. Army Civil Servant for over 30 years.
Ted and Fadia retired in Barnard, Vermont, which Ted described as “absolutely bucolic in its setting and natural beauty.” Ted had been a leader in Saudi Arabia’s large expatriate community, applying his interest and skills in community organizations, and he and Fadia quickly immersed themselves in their local Vermont community. Ted helped establish and develop BarnArts Center of the Arts in Barnard, serving on the board until his death and as board chair for several years. Ted took great pleasure in enhancing cultural opportunities locally. His work with BarnArts was rewarding and what he considered “great fun!”
Ted loved music, which spoke to him deeply. He spent much of his life listening to music and seeking out great performances in diverse genres. He loved the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, also jazz, cabaret and more. Ted loved books from an early age and had an extensive collection of books and music. Theater was another great passion of his. In recent years he and Fadia frequented the Williamstown Theater Festival each summer, where he enjoyed seeing new and developing productions.
Ted is survived by his wife, Fadia Fayad Williamson of Barnard, Vermont. He will be greatly missed by his relatives and many friends all around the world. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Saiid Y. Fayad (wife: Melissa); nephew Rumzie S. Fayad (wife: Sarah), nephew, Joseph S. Fayad, and nephew, Samuel S. Fayad; grandniece, Sofia Fayad; grandnephew, Sam Fayad; and his many cousins and aunt.
Ted was predeceased by his father, Wendell Williamson, in 1972; and his mother, Gwen McDaniel in 2018.
A celebration of life for Ted M. Williamson will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2020, starting at noon at the First Universalist Church and Society of Barnard, 6211 Vermont 12, Barnard, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to BarnArts for the Ted Williamson Fund (“BarnArts”) BarnArts Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 41, Barnard, VT 05031 (barnarts.org) or ArtsPlace, 131 E. Walnut St, P.O. Box 804, Portland, IN 47371 (artsland.org).
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