T. J. Williamson, 96 of Wichita, died peacefully Tuesday August 2, 2021. Born December 21, 1924 in the miniscule town of Mulberry in Crawford County, T.J. was the son of James Thomas and Edna (Andrews) Williamson. He was born in a house owned by the railroad company for which his father worked. His father was a section foreman for the Kansas City Southern Railroad and his mother was a housewife. He was the seventh and last child born to this couple.
T.J. grew up in the farm country of Quaker Valley near Riverton, in Cherokee County. He attended a tworoom schoolhouse from the first grade through the eighth grade.
In 1942, at 17 years of age, T.J. graduated from nearby Riverton High School in the middle of World War II. He was a very busy student in high school. During high school, T.J. was a determined thespian and performed in each of his class plays. In 1939, as a freshman, he was “The Mysterious Visitor” in Gold Gulch. During his sophomore year, he played “Walt Manners, Kenyon’s College Chum” in Pigtails. As a junior, he played “Frank” in Rarin’ to Grow. Then in 1942, T.J. played out his senior year as “Dr. Ferdinand Fischer” in Aunt Tillie Goes to Sea.
T.J. also played football, basketball and baseball. He worked in shop class and made some beautiful pieces of furniture. These included a solid black walnut bed that he was sleeping in until he needed to go into a nursing home in February. As many patriotic students did during the war, T.J. bought Defense Stamps. There were 45 students who graduated with him from Riverton High School in 1942
Ȧfter high school, T.J. enlisted in the military in the middle of World War II. He served in L Company of the 8th United States Army Regiment during World War II. He missed out on D-Day. But was quickly trained and served as an infantryman in France, Luxembourg and Germany. He was a veteran of the great Battle of the Bulge and many other battles as his military unit fought against Hitler’s forces in southern Germany (the Rhineland). He was fighting near Munich when Hitler’s Germany was defeated and peace was finally declared in Europe May 8, 1945 (VE Day).
After the war in the European theater ended T.J. was promptly returned to the United States for further military training to prepare for the final invasion of Japan and hopefully, peace in the Pacific. T.J. was able to avoid having to go the Pacific Theater to fight the rest of the Axis enemies as VJ day was proclaimed August 15, 1945. During World War II, T.J. was awarded several medals including: World War II Victory Medal, awarded to all members of the United States military who served in active duty during the period of December 7, 1940 to December 31, 1946. American Campaign Medal: awarded to service members to recognize their military service in the American Theater of Operations during World War II. The European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal: Awarded to recognize his service performed in the European Theater during the years of World War II. Combat Infantry Badge: awarded to infantrymen in the rank of colonel and below who were under fire during active ground combat. Honorable Service Lapel Pin: Awarded to soldiers who were discharged under honorable conditions during World War II. Good Conduct Medal: Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service. Presidential Unit Citation: Awarded to all of the soldiers in the 8th Infantry Regiment for their actions in D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. It is awarded for “Gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.” Belgian Fourragere: Awarded to the 8th Infantry Regiment for its action in the Belgian Ardennes (the Battle of the Bulge). He was discharged from the Army in 1946 as a clerk typist with a rank of Sergeant.
After World War II, T.J. returned home and married Norma Jean Keith in 1948. The couple was married for 57 years until Jean’s death in 2005. T.J. went to work for the Spencer Chemical Company north of Riverton. He worked on the railroad train crews at the plant site. He was the train engineer when he retired. Spencer Chemical had been sold several times with T.J. eventually retiring from the Chevron Oil Company.
T.J. only had initials for his given names. He was the son of James Thomas Williamson and the grandson of both Thomas James Williamson and Thomas James Andrews. His parents only used the initials when naming their youngest child. T.J. had some difficulty and much fun over the years with the initials. He repeatedly madeup names to go with the initials with Thomas Jefferson being the most common (although he usually added an esquire to the end). He was always quick with a joke or a funny story and he was always a tease. He seemed to know everyone in at least a four-county area. It also seemed that he must have dated half the women in this area when he was a young man. When younger, T.J. enjoyed baseball, bowling, and water skiing. He bowled in many different local leagues. He boated and water skied with his family and friends for many years. He maintained his cars. The family still remembers and have fond memories of the 1957 Chevy Impala and the 1964 Chevy Impala that was maroon with a black interior. They also remember that he wouldn’t let them drive until they learned how to change a flat tire, change the oil, wash the car and then give it a good two coats of hand polish.
T.J. was a good general craftsman and usually did any type of repair work on his home. Until he went into a hospice nursing facility, he slept in the solid black walnut bed that he made in high school. He was always going to volunteer to help if you had a project and he was usually going to be helpful.
Due to illness, T.J. moved from Baxter Springs to Wichita in 2005, after the death of his wife. He continued to live with his daughter in Wichita where he managed to make a whole new group of friends. He found new buddies to meet at McDonalds for their morning coffee.
T.J. is survived by his daughter Sheila K. Williamson, M.D., of Wichita and his son Roger A. Keith of Omaha, Nebraska. T.J. is survived by his daughter-in-law Debra (Lackney) Keith, grandson Brian A. Keith (and great granddaughter Mackenzie N. Keith) and grandson Bradley J. Keith (wife Melissa Newburn Keith and newborn son Owen Henry Keith), all of Omaha Neb.; nieces Kathyrn (Williamson) Sandridge of Springfield, Mo. and Barbara (Williamson) Cox of Joplin, Mo. along with many friends.
T.J. was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Norma Jean (Keith) Williamson in 2005. Also preceding T.J. in death were his siblings: Opal Southard, James Alfred Williamson, Jewell Arnold, Elizabeth Virginia Gregory, Aaron Jefferson Williamson and Raymond Williamson.
Memorial graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Monday, August 23 at the Baxter Springs Cemetery. Pastor Cody Graves officiated. T.J. Williamson was buried next to his parents and his wife.