John T. Williams' Obituary
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of John Terry “John T” Williams who peacefully departed this life on July 27th, 2025, at the age of 82 in the comfort of his home. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather/Papa, brother and friend to many. John T. was born on October 9, 1942, in Dallas, TX to Pauline and John Williams and was later adopted by Cleta and Ulysses Faulk. He was a graduate of W.H. Adamson High School in Dallas and attended the Dallas Police Academy in 1964 and served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves between 1965-1971. He obtained a B.S in Criminal Justice at Abilene Christian University in 1980.
John T. had a long-standing rewarding career in law enforcement. He proudly served 26 years with the Dallas Police Department, retiring as a Sargeant in 1989. During his tenure with the DPD he was involved with and led many successful operations and assignments while working in various departments that included Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Divisions. Some highlights include serving as an assistant commander for the Greater Dallas Area Organized Crime Task Force and managing the police department’s Crimestoppers program. At the time of his retirement, he was a supervisor in the investigative unit at the North Central Division Substation.
Upon his retirement from the DPD, John T. became a commissioned state police officer and served as the Director of Law Enforcement in Austin, TX for the Texas Racing Commission for 10+ years. During his time with the racing commission he helped draft and establish many policies enforced today by law enforcement agencies used in regulating parimutuel horse racing and greyhound racing in Texas. After his retirement from the state, John T. then served many years as a court security officer through the U.S. Marshall’s service at the Earle Cabell Federal Building in Dallas.
Beyond his career, John T. was a proud member of the East Dallas Masonic Lodge #1200 AF & AM, where he became a Mason in 2004. He held many offices in the Lodge and became Worshipful Master in 2025.
A true family man, John T.’s hobbies were mostly centered around his family. He cherished times spent with family on his back porch grilling and listening to music that included the Eagles and Johnny Cash, to name a few. He was an avid boater and fisherman and loved saltwater fishing along the gulf coast, freshwater fishing in the mountains and loved taking his boat out on various lakes around Texas. Although he enjoyed playing golf, he probably did not achieve the handicap score he would have preferred, but he sure had fun trying for many years. A devoted husband and travel partner, many of his favorite moments in life were spent traveling and RV camping with his bride of 56 years, Dottie. He also loved everything Rangers baseball and was ecstatic to see the Rangers win the World Series in 2023. The most caring Dad anyone could ever ask for, he was also a doting “Papa” and never missed his grandsons’ events. He will always be Lake Dallas High School’s biggest sports fan and considered his grandsons’ friends his own. For many years he looked forward to and enjoyed making “Papa’s pancakes” for everyone on weekend mornings. He was a dear friend to many, he never met a stranger & always put the needs of everyone else before his own. He had such positive energy and had a rare gift for making others smile and laugh, leaving a lasting impression on many who crossed his path.
He is survived by his best friend, soulmate and loving wife Dottie (Norman) Williams; daughter Kim Ludwig and husband Craig; cherished grandsons John T. Schuster, Jacob Schuster and wife Allyson; brother Jerry Williams and wife Diane; brother-in-law Billy Norman and wife Ritha; sisters-in-law Shirley (Norman) Lauterbach, Betty Jo (Norman) Penland, Evelyn (Norman) Bynum and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by stepson Jack Garrett.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 2:30 pm inside the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243. Visitation will be held same day from 12:30-2:30 pm (same chapel) prior to the service with a burial directly to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Scottish Rite for Children in his name. https://secure3.convio.net/tsrh/site/Donation2?idb=1465388023&1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400&mfc_pref=T&idb=0
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