Gretchen Wood Williams<br/>January 24, 1923 - August 27, 2014

GRETCHEN WOOD WILLIAMS

Born January 24, 1923, Philadelphia, PA; died August 27, 2014, Laguna Woods, CA. Educated at Scarborough School, Swarthmore College and Art Students League, NY. Gretchen’s parents were Philip Emerson Wood, a stage and film actor, and Margaretta Wood. Gretchen grew up in an intellectually rich environment, but her family’s finances were volatile as a result of the ups and downs of her father’s acting career. In 1940 Gretchen’s father died while in Hollywood for the filming of “Our Town,” and in 1944 her beloved brother, Marine First Lt. Philip Emerson Wood Jr, was killed in action on Saipan. Gretchen was forced to leave college to support her mother. She found work as a graphic designer in wartime New York, and became an art director for several magazines. She met Thomas A. Williams when he returned to his native New York following WWII, and they married in 1946. Their marriage ended only upon his death 57 years later.

She and Tom headed for California in 1950 after Tom completed Business School at Harvard. After brief periods in La Jolla and Whittier, they chose the then small seaside hamlet of Newport Beach as their home. They raised two children in a house in Corona del Mar in which they lived for 50 years. Gretchen was a wonderful parent, encouraging her children’s interests in all fields. She was also a very talented artist; she worked steadily and successfully as a commercial artist, and honed her watercolor technique for 80 years. Her interest in the arts was not confined to fine arts---she also maintained a lifelong interest in literature and film. Gretchen was a lively and engaging conversationalist who befriended people of all sorts. She was tolerant and resilient, sensitive and tough. At the end of her long life, she displayed amazing courage, patience and sense of humor in the face of multiple health challenges.

Gretchen is survived by her two children, Robert Williams and Cynthia Fletcher, and by four beloved grandchildren.

Her interment will be private, at Riverside National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, on September 27, 2014, at 2:00 pm, with reception to follow.