Samuel Williamson, Jr.
Lt. Col. USAF Ret.
Samuel Williamson was born on October 23, 1920 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
At the age of 17 he began flying. He achieved his private pilot license at the age of 20 and enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 1939. In 1942 he graduated from military pilot school and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant as a B-26 Marauder pilot assigned to the 387th Bombardment Group and then assigned to the 556th Bomb Squadron where he flew his first combat mission in WWII in 1943.
In 1945 he met his wife, Dorothy, in Florida.
During his military tenure with the Air Force he flew over 64 combat missions. In 1966, he retired as USAF Lieutenant Colonel after 26 years with Distinguished Flying Cross and two Silver Clusters to the Air Medal plus Commendation Medal.
After active duty he worked as Personnel Director for Cessna Aircraft Company and the City of Wichita for over 12 years. He and wife Dorothy retired to Colorado Springs in 1988.
Samuel was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy; and his sisters Ruby, Loma, and Mary. He is survived by his brother, Robert in Tennessee; his son, Sam and wife Cheryl Williamson; his daughter, Carol and husband Paul Wallace; his grandchildren: Shannon Peterson, Lisa Duplessi, Jason Wallace, Laura Petersen, and Kenneth Wallace; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday, April 21, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
Roger F. Greaves
1 Aug 2020I worked for Lt. Col. Williamson, then Director of Personnel, 98th Bomb Wing, Lincoln AFB, Nebraska. No finer man ever led other men, with a quiet resolve and confident spirit. He was a hero and everyone knew it.