John Hugh Williams

John Williams, Air Force Officer and Redlands Business Owner Dies at 81

Lt. Colonel John Hugh Williams, a USC grad, Air Force Pilot and Commander, Vietnam War

Veteran, Redlands business owner, instructor, craftsman, traveler, computer guru,

photographer, and family man well-known for his humor, passed away on February 5, 2023.

During his 20 year career in the Air Force, John flew rescue missions in the Vietnam War,

trained pilots including the first female Air Force pilot, planned base construction proposals

sent to Congress, and commanded the flying unit that brought the U.S. captives from the

Iranian Hostage Crisis home.

John and his wife, Wendy, moved to Redlands in 1984 with their daughters Diana, Marianne

and Jeannette, and bought Redlands Print Shop where they enjoyed working with many other

local business owners.

John enjoyed traveling, woodworking, USC football and photography. He joined the Redlands

Camera Club where he received awards for several of his photographs and taught photo editing

classes.

He spoke often with pride about his daughters, his three sons-in-law: Erik, Sean and Luke, and

his six grandchildren: Kaylee, Linda, Ethan, Luke, Erin and Liam. John enjoyed joking with

everyone, even the hospital staff attested to his sense of humor on his last day. His family and

friends will always remember his amazing wit, huge smile and his laughter.

Services will be held at Emmerson-Bartlett in Redlands on March 2, 2023 at 11 am, with a

reception beginning at 10 am. A military honors burial will follow at Riverside National

Cemetery at 1:30 pm.