Rebecca Susan Williams

(Rebecca) Susan Williams passed away peacefully in the home she was born into on October 1, 2024, surrounded by family and those she affectionately referred to as "chosen family".

She was called Susan, Susie, or rarely Becky, depending on how you knew her. But most people called her Sue.

Sue was born on September 15, 1950 in Los Angeles, CA. She spent most of her life in Bellflower, CA. She attended Bellflower High School, where she met her husband of 54 years, Kenneth (Ken) Williams, who survives her. Sue and Ken were married in 1970, and enlisted in the Air Force together, also in 1970. They were stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV, which was the only time that Sue lived outside of Bellflower. Sue served 7 years active duty at Nellis, and daughters Tracy Gutierrez (Roger) and Amanda Simmer (Brian) were born on base during that time. The family returned to Bellflower in 1978, where Sue remained the rest of her life. Ashley Sanchez (Auggy) was born in 1986, completing the Williams family.

Sue continued to serve in the Air Force as a reservist, stationed at the now-closed Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. This service entailed one weekend a month, two weeks a year, and took her to Air Force Bases around the world. She was able to spend time in Hawaii, Germany, Japan, Guam, The Philippines, and South Korea, to name a few. She made many lifelong friends through the time she spent in the Air Force. She retired in 1993 with the rank of Master Sergeant, and her family is proud of all she accomplished as a woman in the military.

Sue worked for the Bellflower Unified School District beginning in the early 80s, until her retirement in 2005. She also made lifelong friends through her time working at schools in the district such as Bellflower High, Frank E. Woodruff Elementary, and Stephen Foster Elementary. She always said how much she loved seeing the kids every day. She was so well-known within the district that everywhere the family went in Bellflower, they ran into someone she knew. Her daughters heard "Oh, you're Sue's daughter!" quite regularly.

Probably the greatest joy in Sue's life were her seven grandchildren: Kylie Simmer, Kristen Simmer, Ethan Simmer, Paulie Gutierrez, Ava Sanchez, Abbi Sanchez, and Ari Sanchez. Grammy Sue was an incredibly involved grandmother and showered her grandchildren with love.

In her retirement, when she wasn't shuttling grandkids places, volunteering countless hours at her beloved parish, Saint Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, or crocheting, Sue loved to take her "canned ham" trailer, "Posey" on camping trips with the group Sisters on the Fly. She towed her small trailer all over California, and as far as Wyoming. She enjoyed these trips so much that she had several planned at the time of her passing.

Sue was such a loving person and was clearly loved by so many in return. She will be missed terribly.

Sue's Celebration of Life will be held at Saint Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 5306 Arbor Road, Long Beach, CA., on Saturday, November 16th, 2024, at 11 a.m.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401