He graduated from Garden City High School, Long Island, NY, in 1952. He attended the University of Maine at Orono and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity where he met and fell in love with his future bride of 58 years, Nancy Wakely of Topsham. In 1956, David was commissioned in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant of Armor upon graduation from UMaine.
After commissioning, David and Nancy were married at the First Parish Church in Brunswick, Maine, on Aug. 4, 1956. Subsequently, David’s Army career took them to multiple assignments across the United States and Germany over the years. In 1967-68 Dave served a combat tour with Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) as part of the Provincial Advisory Team, Kontum Province, and Republic of Vietnam. David’s selection and command of the 4th Battalion 69th Armor in the mid-1970s was the assignment of which he considered the most gratifying.
He later served as the G1 of the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) also in Germany and was a proud graduate of the United States Army War College Class of 1978. He elected the assignment as the Senior Army Advisor to the Vermont Army National Guard for family considerations in 1979. After a noteworthy 30- year military career he retired in 1982.
Dave was the quintessential military professional noted for leading from the front, fairness, and establishing a climate of esprit and high standards in the organizations in which he served. He received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Services Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Civil Actions Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Dave had a great sense of humor and a broad scope of interests. He was an avid skier, sailor of the Maine coast, and tennis player which led to his interest in several organizations. He was an active member of Military Order of the World Wars, including serving as president until his illness overtook him. He could be found for many years skippering his other love, the sailboat “Esprit de Corps” in Maine coastal waters. He became an active member of the mid-coast Power Squadron also serving as its Commodore for a period in the late 1990s.
Dave is survived by the love of his life Nancy Wakely Schlieper, his wife of 58 years, and two children, David Steven and wife Nathalie of Bath, Maine, and Lisa Williams and her husband Tim of Jericho, VT; six grandchildren: T. Owen Williams and his wife Maren of Austin, TX; Katherine Schlieper of Medford, MA; Brian David Williams and his wife Colleen of Fairfax, VT; Erika Schlieper of Williamsburg, VA; Donna Schlieper of Nashua, NH; Geoffrey P. Williams and wife Janaya of Tacoma, WA; He is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Tanner David, Eliza, Mason and Brenn.
David was predeceased by a son Gregory in 2011.
The family would like to thank the many friends and loved ones who provided their prayers and support over these past few months. They would especially like to thank the staff and friends of Patriot Place and the hospice staff at the Togus Veteran’s Hospital for the exceptional care and kindness shown to David over the past year.
Visiting hours will be held at the Brackett Funeral Home, Federal Street, Brunswick, ME, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, from 2 to 4 p.m. A formal private graveside service will be conducted with military honors at the time of interment in the spring at the Hillside Cemetery, Lisbon Falls, ME. The family suggests that donations to a charity of your choice be made in his name.
In a life of many achievements, the role at which David excelled at was as a grandfather and is best captured in this letter read to him in his last few hours composed by his eldest grandson:
Opa,
Before starting to write this letter I have gone through literally thousands of wonderful memories recounting my time spent with you. As a young boy, some of the best memories include sledding with you down your driveway off Milo White Road when you lived in Jericho or how you told us the huge pile of rocks at that house was an Indian burial ground which scared the crap out of Brian and me. As I got older, it is the memories of my summer visits to Maine where we would play tennis at Sunday River well past sunset or how you made us your famous cream soda floats with your secret syrup and the countless Christmases we had at the cabin skiing and working with you at the Ski Shop. You deeply influenced my love of history, politics and sports. We would talk about the Civil War and the Second World War for hours or watch the Red Sox or Wimbledon together.
However, the time I most cherish is the year I lived with you. That year you helped shape me into the man I am today, deeply impacting my life as a husband, father and Officer in the Army. These memories will have a lasting impact on me.
All of these wonderful and funny stories and memories are a reflection of you and what you mean to me and I will cherish them forever.
As this will be our last correspondence, I have come to realize I am losing not only my grandfather, but a dear friend. God Almighty has truly blessed me by giving me such a wonderful grandfather; I couldn’t have asked for better.
You are a good man and you will always be in my heart. May God’s grace and peace be forever with you.
I love you Opa.
Your friend,
Owen
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