Edward Jerome Williams

Edward J. Williams 3/19/1935 to 4/16/2026

Ed, beloved husband, professor and friend, passed away on 4/16/2026 in Prescott, AZ at the age of 91.

Ed was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Turtle Creek, PA on 3/19/1935 to Edward C. Williams and Cecilia Vancosky. After graduating from Turtle Creek High School, he served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne where he jumped out of airplanes 16 times. After being discharged from the Army, he started school at Potomac State Jr. College where he was Valedictorian of his class and ultimately honored as an Outstanding Alum.

Ed received his BA and MA degrees from Duquesne, followed by his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins. His doctoral Dissertation became an Academic Book of the Year.

After 3 years at Marquette University, he moved to The University of Arizona in Tucson where he had a brilliant 35 year career including mentoring 20 doctoral students. His research and publications led to numerous visiting positions across the globe.

He married Grace Calteron in 1960, they had 4 daughters: Nancy Marie, Jean Marie, Ann Marie, and Susan Marie. Ed was involved in his daughter’s sports activities and was very proud of their academic achievements.

Through his extensive writings, 4 books, and numerous articles in professional magazines and newspaper articles, Ed became known internationally for his expertise on international borders. He taught as a visiting professor in Finland, Germany, Italy, Mexico and the US Army War College. He did presentations across the world.

In the 1980’s he married Vera Williams. Together they traveled the world, as part of his career, including Europe, India, Mexico, Russia and the Netherlands.

He served on the boards of Directors of the Arizona/Mexico Commission, (where he met Vera), Fundacion Mexico, and the U.N. Association of Southern Arizona.

He retired in 2024 and moved to Prescott, AZ where he quickly became involved with the community. He served on the Board of Directors of The Sharlot Hall Historical Museum and the Sister Cities Prescott-Caborca Mx Committee. He worked for ten years with a friend to return the baptismal font from an Arizona museum to the church in Caborca, He was honored with a Key to the City.

Ed is survived by his wife of 38 years Vera Williams: his daughter Nancy Williams and her children Gracie and Charlie: his daughter Jean Williams, her husband Cass, and son Shane: his daughter Ann Williams, husband Igor, their daughters Natasha and Natalie: his daughter Susan Williams and her sons Raé and Ariel, Vera’s daughter Diane Jordan, her husband Fred, and their children Daniel and Michelle, her husband Matt and great-granddaughter Vivian: and Vera’s son Brian Finley.

There will be a private interment. A Celebration of Life will follow at a later date.