William Dean Williamson enlisted in the Naval Reserve in November 1937 and then in the Navy on Jan. 1, 1939. He was a radioman and petty officer second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

Mr. Williamson was born July 26, 1920 to Oswald Brannin, a machinist at the Navy yard at Puget Sound, Washington, and Rhoda Moore Brannin, a homemaker. He had at least seven siblings who remained with the parents, but William was raised by his aunt and uncle, Irma Brannin Williamson and George T. Williamson. They were legally his foster parents. George also worked at the Navy yard, as a toolmaker. Willliam was their only child.

The Willliamsons moved to the San Diego area in the mid-1930s. William ended his schooling in June 1938 after two months at Grossmont High School.

He married Athalone “Ann” Lovis Cone Williamson in October 1940 at Yuma, Arizona. It was a popular wedding spot for sailors because unlike California, Arizona had no waiting period. They made their home at Long Beach — adjacent to the battleship’s home port at San Pedro. 

Sources: Arizona marriage license; the Kitsap (Washington) Sun; the Coast Dispatch of Encinitas, Calif.; Navy enlistment records and muster roll.; grave marker. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.