Obituary of John T. Williams GORHAM-- Less than six years short of his goal of living to one hundred, John Thomas Williams died at the age of ninety four on February 28th, 2018. A life long resident of Gorham Maine, John was prominent figure in the community for much of his life, ranging from his numerous personal business ventures and a period of employment with the Windham school department. For those who knew him, he will be remembered fondly as both a hard, yet generous man. John was born in 1923 to Albert and Alfreda (Hawkes) Williams, where he grew up along side his three siblings on their family farm. Drafted at the age of nineteen by the U.S. Army, John Williams survived seven foreign invasions across North Africa and Europe during his two years of military service, and was awarded both the Silver Star Medal and Bronze Arrow Head Device. After returning to Maine in 1945, John married Sylvia B. Libby in 1946, who remained his wife of fifty five years until her death in 2001. During the ensuing years, John was the proprietor of a Mobil filling station on Mosher Road in Little Falls for twenty years, after which he simultaneously drove a bus for Windham School Department and ran a private sawdust delivery service in addition to keeping and racing Standardbred horses. On March 10th, 1982 John and his son opened Williams Oil Company Inc. jointly, and after it's sale he continued to work in various occupations as a delivery driver for Down East Energy, and later as an equipment operator for Stone Paving until retiring at the age of eighty five. The experiences of John's life forged a man determined to overcome any challenge that he was with. Tough, but fair, he spared no one his honest unbridled opinion; reminding us that the truth is sometimes painful. In his youth, John pursed many outdoor interests such as hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling; regaling friends and family with his exploits in later years at "The Blue Moon"—an Airstream trailer he had converted into a home bar. His love for horses and passion for racing dominated John's life for many years, yielding him many fond memories even after the last horse was gone. Although perhaps not able to always express it, he cared deeply for his family, ensuring that they were provided for above all else. He is survived by his four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Per John's wishes, no funeral service or visiting hours will be held. On Sunday, April 8th, the family will host a final cocktail hour at "The Blue Moon" beginning at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Maine or the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. Arrangements are in the care of the Westbrook Chapel of Dolby Blais & Segee, 35 Church St., Westbrook, ME 04092.