J. Claude Williamson

J. Claude Williamson died from natural causes on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the age of 106.

He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, August 20, 1919, to his parents, Glenn Gibson Williamson and Mary Luella Leffler. He was the oldest of 4 children, all close in age.

Coming from a very humble background, he grew up in a small rented home with no indoor plumbing until he was 10 years old. Claude worked his way through college at The Ohio State University, graduating with a B.E.E. in 1941 and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was deployed as a Radar Officer with the Army Signal Corps, to Maine, to San Clemente Island, and then to North Africa, Corsica, and Italy. After the war, he used the G.I. bill to obtain his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at Ohio State. He then began a career in the world of defense contracting, specializing in the placement and operation of large antennas. He worked for General Electric in Liverpool, NY, for almost 20 years, for Raytheon in Wayland, MA, and finally at MITRE Corp in Bedford, MA, from where he retired.

It is challenging to sum up such a long and productive life! Claude’s main outside interests were family, fresh-water fishing, and foreign travel. By the age of 89, he had traveled to all 7 continents. He loved explaining scientific matters and telling stories, particularly about his WWII service. He was a member of the First Parish in Wayland, Unitarian Universalist, for over 55 years, serving on the Buildings & Grounds Committee and the Music Committee. He worked in the book department of the annual Rummage Sale and delivered a monthly supper to a local soup kitchen for many years. Above all, he was an optimist.

He was predeceased by his wife and love of his life, Hazel (Tarbutton) Williamson, his sister, Mary Louise (Williamson) Steil, his two brothers, Paul and Wayne Williamson, and his youngest son-in-law, Stephen Winthrop. He is survived by his three children, Christine (Ken) Bender, John (Dolores Yrisarry) Williamson, and Jane Williamson, by 7 grandchildren (Sarah, Elizabeth, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Casey, and Hannah), and 5 great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank his loyal aide, Liza Perlini, for years of loving, attentive care and laughter. They also thank the members of First Parish in Wayland for the many accommodations they provided their eldest member during the last 6 years of his life.

A service celebrating Claude’s life will be held at the First Parish in Wayland on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 10:00 am. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to:
First Parish in Wayland
P.O. Box 397
Wayland, MA 01778-0397
Tel: 508-358-6133
www.uuwayland.org

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com