Our grieving family mourns the loss of their cherished member. Bluford Benjamin (Ben) Williams who died on January 21, 2024 after a valiant and miraculous 26-year cancer battle – fun-loving, devoted family man, a great storyteller and proud serviceman. He was truly one of a kind and someone who will be simply irreplaceable.
Ben was born on May 23, 1964 to Fred (of blessed memory) and O’Kelley Williams in Riverside California. He graduated from South Garland High School in 1983 and went to work for his father’s company Williams Dry Wall, taping and bedding every new apartment during Dallas booming 80’s. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1985 with determination to become a Navy SEAL. He received his Trident as a graduate of BUDS class 137 and embarked on two separate six-month deployments to the Far East. He was profoundly honored to serve his country and received high marks for his contribution to the teams.
Six months prior to enlistment he donned his combat boots and ran three miles to a new hot dog joint called Chuggs in Garland, TX where he met the love of his life, Debra. He told his friend the day he first met her, “I’m going to marry that girl.” And as only Ben could, his determination won and they were married on June 4th, 1989 the day before they opened a restaurant called Medieval Inn. Seven years into their ownership they transitioned the dinner theater into the sports bar, Ben’s Half Yard House which suited his fanatic love of sports. He finished his career at Trident Response Group.
They were blessed with two incredible children, Sophia Jo (beloved husband Guy) Baron and Max. They were his world. Being a father and father-in-law was his favorite thing. He was Bubba, Willy, Benito, Scoop, and Ben to his family and friends but Papa Blu to Oz – his delicious grandson.
In addition to the above, he is survived by his sisters Tracey and Tamara (and Mark) Williams, his brother Fred (and Joyce) Williams, his sister-in-law Lori (and Efisio) Farris, and brother-in-law Peter Seemann, numerous nieces and nephews and cousins, and their spouses and children which he adored.
There wasn’t a single person that didn’t love Ben. He was always welcome at any gathering, regaling people with jokes, silly antics, and storytelling. He loved to cook, play cards, watch westerns or crime stories, and play or watch sports. His love of sports ran deep, often going to high school games of the children he taught in Sunday school. He was a student of the game and he valued sportsmanship over everything.
He was a role model to many who learned by his example of showing up, paying it forward, failing early and often, staying present, believing in yourself, and never giving up. He was a guy’s guy and he loved his band of brothers but his family was second to none.
The light of our lives may have been extinguished but he taught us all how to live life to the fullest even until the end. Rest easy Blu. We will laugh again, but it will never be the same without you.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Dallas, Texas 75230 in Stern Chapel with a reception to follow in Linz Hall. The service will be streamed. Please contact the chapel for the streaming information.
The family will receive condolences at their home this Saturday, January 27, 2024 through Wednesday, January 31, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Carry The Load, https://www.carrytheload.org/; Adaptive Training Foundation, https://www.adaptivetrainingfoundation.org. Two organizations he was deeply devoted to serving.