Salem, MA - Kenneth C Williams, 85, beloved husband of Barbara Deane (Lytle), passed away peacefully at his home on January 30, 2018 in Salem, MA. He will be missed immeasurably by many.

Ken bequeathed his kindness and compassion to all who crossed his path and, by example, led others to do the same. Through serving others, following his faith, loving unconditionally, and being true to himself, he showed that love always triumphs and that nothing is impossible with God.

Ken was born on July 9, 1932 in Vermontville, Michigan to his parents, the late Claude and Irma (Roth) Williams. While attending Lowell High School and Grand Rapids Junior College, he was a football guard and a junior golden gloves boxer; he was a youth leader in student government and the United Methodist Church. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1955 as teacher and mathematician.  For 5 years, he taught High School Math in Lowell and Kalamazoo, MI. He then received a National Science Foundation Grant to attend Bowling Green State University where he received his Master's in Mathematics in 1962.

During his 25 year career with IBM, he co-discovered the Esau-Williams algorithm (1966) to solve the problem of optimal design of a network and which was first applied to reservation systems. Over 4 decades, there have been repeated attempts to improve on this design – none have proved to be as efficient. He later joined the Executive Education division and travelled the globe for IBM unlocking the power of computing to CEOs who were purchasing their first computer system. In retirement, he taught computer classes in the business department of Shenandoah University and provided computer networking consulting to small non-profits and businesses.

Ken was married to Barb on August 29, 1953 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; they shared 64 adventurous, loving years.  They shared a deep Methodist faith, love of Christ, family, and friends. As one, they opened their home, hearts, and talents to everyone.  His leadership in his faith community was instrumental in developing and expanding services for those less fortunate - from Michigan to Ohio to New York to North Carolina to DC to northwestern Virginia where they lived for 30 years, and, finally, to Massachusetts. In the course of those years, he built 5 homes for his large family and later contributed to the building and renovations of his children's homes. Ken spent his final years in the care of his loving wife, "Barb", in the Salem, MA home of his devoted daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Dave and their children.

Both Ken and Barb were very active in their local youth groups, guiding young ones to discover the importance of compassion and service to others, namely by participating in Habitat for Humanity, The Appalachia Service Project, 4H, and the United Methodist Church. Helping the less fortunate and destitute was a driving force in his life. Ken always put others before himself.

He grew up on the Roth family dairy farm later building his own horse farm in Rhinebeck, NY. He was most proud of his Arabian stallion, "Doc" (Shams Ameer), which he showed and stood at stud. He also had a special place in his heart for his sweet, grey gelding, Ali Baba ("Ali"). He supported his children's passion for riding through horse shows, trail rides, and fox hunting.  Doc and Ali moved with him to North Carolina and Virginia. He later taught his oldest grandchildren how to ride Ali or had them sit atop Doc as he led them around his Virginia "farm"..

Ken leaves behind his beloved wife, Barbara, three sons and two daughters:  Dr. Jeffery Williams and his wife, Deborah (Doherty), of Red Hook, NY; Bonnie and her husband, David Henry, of Salem, MA; Mark Williams and his wife, Susan (Schadle), of Holly Springs, NC; Mike Williams of Edinburg, VA, and Sally Williams of Suffolk, VA.  He was predeceased by his brother Charles Williams and survived by his siblings, Shirley Selby, Joyce Nichols, and James Williams.

Ken was dearly loved by his thirteen grandchildren: Lauren Williams Ubiera, Lindsay Williams, Kaitlyn Williams, Thomas Henry, Baby David Henry, Jessica Williams, Katherine Henry, Jonathan Williams, William Henry, James Williams, Samuel Williams, Chason Williams, and Mathew Williams. They will miss him immensely and will remember him fondly for his ear wiggling exhibitions, Donald Duck impressions, corny jokes, silly songs, and endless outdoor escapades from makeshift water slides to tractor rides.

Ken also had the joy of having an "adopted" son, Chris Rex, who lived with them on exchange from South Africa for a year. And, since only wonderful grandparents get to become great grandparents, Ken got to know his two great-grandchildren, William and Gabriela Ubiera, whom he affectionately called "sugarplum".

ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours will take place on Friday, February 16 from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Murphy's Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, Salem. Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, February 17 at 11 A.M. at Wesley Methodist Church, 8 North Street, Salem. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Salem.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Kenneth's name to Appalachia Service Project's "Warmer. Safer. Drier. Fund", www.asphome.org/give .  Flowers for the service are being ordered through Dave Eng's Florist.