Others Magazine

Major Glen Roy Williams was promoted to glory from his home in Lota, Queensland, on Wednesday 3 February 2021, aged 85 years.

Glen Roy Williams was born to Captain and Mrs John Williams, the second of four children, on 25 November 1935 at Pittsworth (Qld). He entered The Salvation Army Training College at Petersham in the Pioneers session from Dee Why Corps. Four short appointments followed at Acacia Ridge, Dorrigo, Parramatta/Dundas and the Snowy Mountains Field Unit. A two-year ministry at Narwee and a year at Maclean Corps followed.

In 1965, Glen married Captain Margaret Hutchinson. Their first appointment as married officers was at Narrabri for three years and during the next two years they served at Ballina Corps and cared for Woodburn Corps whilst it was without officers. In 1970, they moved to Goulburn and then Canberra, where Glen was Divisional Youth Secretary for the South NSW and ACT Division.

Other corps appointments at Rockhampton Temple (Qld), Maryborough (Qld) and Mayfield (NSW) followed. Glen became the assistant administrator at Riverview Eventide Home and in 1981 he was appointed to open and administer Warrina Village, Chelmer (Qld).

A transfer to Territorial Headquarters as Social Finance Officer came in November 1981. He later became Divisional Chancellor for Sydney Central Division. and then he served as Assistant Financial Secretary (THQ) from June 1986 to January 1988. Responsibilities as State Social Services Secretary (Qld) for four years; Divisional General Secretary for South Queensland Division and Divisional Commander for Central and North Queensland kept Glen in the Sunshine State until he moved to an appointment as Divisional General Secretary in Newcastle (NSW). Responsibilities then shifted to Divisional Commander for the Newcastle and Central NSW Division.

In 1998, Glen was appointed to THQ Sydney as the Assistant Secretary for Program and then Assistant Secretary for Business Administration. From this appointment, Glen and Margaret retired to Lota in Brisbane and attended Wynnum Corps until it closed in October 2020. While soldiering at Wynnum, he was responsible, along with Margaret, for the Silver Threads Seniors program from 2001 to 2019.

Also during retirement, Glen has been the treasurer for Retired Officers, treasurer for Missionary Fellowship and chairman of the Bible Society, Wynnum Branch. He and Margaret also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and participated in League Of Mercy ministries, visiting nursing homes in the Wynnum area.

Glen is survived by his wife Margaret and children – Captain Gai Cathcart, RSDS Adelaide (with Captain Peer Cathcart); Captain Adele Williams, Corps Officer at Maryborough Corps (Qld) and John Williams (with Sharon), Manager Salvation Army Soundpoint Centre Goodna. He also has six grandchildren and extended family who remember him with deep affection.

Glen will be remembered as a Christian gentleman, kind and patient. He was faithful in his service to Jesus, and loyal to The Salvation Army. He was gifted and talented and is described as being encouraging and supportive to younger officers.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

Glen certainly lived his life in worship. All glory to God.