Thomas Jefferson Williams Jr.

Thomas Jefferson Williams Jr. (aka TJ) was born March 19th, 1930 and left us on January 6th, 2024 at the age of 93. TJ was born to TJ and Mary Lou Williams in Albuquerque, NM. He grew up as an overachiever making honor rolls, being voted "King" at Washington JHS, Class President every year when he attended Albuquerque High School. He was also nominated to become a US Naval Academy Cadet by a NM Congressman, but he had already chosen to attend UNM where he eventually earned a BS degree in electrical engineering. TJ served his country during the Korean War where he was stateside, in The Signal Corp, teaching radar to US Army soldiers in Aberdeen Maryland. Aberdeen was where his first child was born and eventually he had two more children with Carolyn Williams, his wife of 26 years. Later in life, when TJ married Donna Kilgore in 1977, TJ's children, Craig, Karen, and Sandy joined Donna's kids, Debbie, Ileen, Bill, and Judy, to become a real life version of "The Brady Bunch". TJ and Donna lived the best life ever! They were active in the Elks Club life attending conventions around the state and country, going to dances, parties, and entertaining friends and family at their beautiful home. They were a dynamic duo and 'The Life' of every event they attended. TJ was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, ascending thru the ranks to become The Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge 461. He also was voted State President of The New Mexico Elks Association. TJ continued his formal education and earned his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at UNM (and oh by the way, he was President of the UNM Alumni Association one year as well) and received numerous Achievement Awards at Sandia Labs, where he worked for 40 years. Sadly, Donna passed away on June 22, 2019 after 42 years of marriage, but TJ continued to be the family patriarch until his passing. He is survived by his sons Craig Williams, Bill Kilgore, his daughters Sandy Tevis, Debbie Malanify, Ileen Molloy, Judy Rieman, and their respective spouses. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. TJ will be greatly missed, but we will carry his memory into perpetuity with a celebration of his life on Monday January 22nd at 1:00 pm at French's Mortuary, located at 7121 Wyoming Blvd, Albuquerque, NM. Graveside services will take place that same day at 2:30 pm at Sunset Memorial Park at 924 Menaul Blvd, Albuquerque, NM. In lieu of flowers the family asks that any donations go to the UNM Scholarship Fund www.unmfund.org