Eric Ralph Williams was born on September 28,1943 in Greenville, Mississippi and grew up among the cotton fields of Sunflower County. He called Drew home, living in the small town where he lived a childhood with many friends and a loving family. He came from a very sport-oriented family playing baseball, basketball, and football. He went on to play basketball at Ole Miss, following the tradition of his father, brother, and sister. He also attended Memphis State and earned a Masters’ Degree from UT Tyler.
He lived an active life being a basketball coach and teacher at Ambassador High School and then Ambassador College both in California and Texas. He always involved his children in activities with students and had life-long friends that he made there. He loved to fly fish, hike, backpack, and took his family and students on the road to travel to Minnesota in the summers where he coached basketball at a camp.
He moved to Tyler in 1980 where he was a landman, then to Colorado, and then to Puerto Rico. This is where he met his wife, Galén while scuba diving. They ended up moving back to Tyler where they became avid cyclists. His active life continued until Parkinson’s Disease began to rob him of his active lifestyle. He passed away from complications of the disease on September 5, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Evelyn Williams, and siblings Don, Gwen, and Alex. He leaves behind his wife for 35 years, Galén Muñoz Williams of Tyler, and children Melissa Long of McKinney, and Pablo Rehbein and wife Vanessa of San Juan. He had seven grandchildren, Amanda Williams, William Skinner, Braeden Skinner, Erin Williams, Cailyn Skinner, and Mariana and Milena Rehbein Solís. He also has great grandchildren Lily May Morris and soon, Aurelia Morris.
He will be missed by the multitude of his friends and his family. He was a wonderful and faithful father, husband, grandfather, and friend. As passionate as he was about sports, he was passionate about the Lord. He loved his church family at Grace Community, Grace Español, and at all the small groups and bible study breakfasts. Our loss is Heaven’s gain of such a good and faithful servant.
His memorial service is in the care of Lloyd James Funeral Home but will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Iglesia Grace Español, located in 3215 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas, 75701. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to St Jude, Children’s Research Hospital.
