Home » Home » OBITUARY: Space Program Veteran Harry Lee Williams, 86, of Titusville Passed Away Jan. 31

OBITUARY: Space Program Veteran Harry Lee Williams, 86, of Titusville Passed Away Jan. 31

By  //  February 16, 2025

moved to Brevard in 1961 to work for NASA

Harry Lee Williams, 86, of Titusville, Florida, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2025. He dedicated 37 years to the space program, extending through all of the manned space flight missions and many of the planetary missions before retiring as a Space Shuttle Payload Operations Specialist in 1998.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Harry Lee Williams, 86, of Titusville, Florida, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2025. Born in Grayson County, VA, on November 7, 1938, to the late Elmer and Vada Williams.

Harry moved to Brevard County, Florida, in 1961 to work for NASA during the early years of its emergence after serving honorably in the United States Army.

He dedicated 37 years to the space program, spanning all of the manned space flight missions and many of the planetary missions, before retiring as a Space Shuttle Payload Operations Specialist in 1998.

Harry was a lifelong learner, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida in Science and Mathematics.

Outside of his professional achievements, he was an avid hunter, a passion he shared with his sons, Matt and Doug. He also enjoyed watching golf and football, cheering for Virginia Tech, the University of Central Florida, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A devoted member of the First Christian Church of Titusville, Harry served as an Elder for many years. He found joy in gardening and yard work. He was esteemed as the original family grill master, providing genuine hospitality, a constant and willing helping hand, and a quick wit.

Harry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 43 years, Joan Williams, his sister Patricia Davis, and his bother Mike Williams.

He is survived by his four children: Debbie Sutphin and husband Tony, Doug Williams and wife Lora, Kim Hamm, and Matt Williams and wife Jen; his two stepchildren, Debra Stewart and David Jaehne and wife Ami; his brother James Williams; his two sisters: Carolyn Bird and husband Ron and Pam Swinney and husband Bobby; as well as twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church of Titusville, 2880 W. Jay Jay Road, Titusville, FL, on March 9, 2025, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends from noon until the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations be made in Harry’s name to either Saint Francis Hospice, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780 (website: https://reflectionslsc.org/donate/) or to Cold Springs United Methodist Church c/o Ms. Judy Porter, 464 Turkey Knob Road, Fries VA 24330.

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