1929
M.
2012
M. Coburn Williams
January 28, 1929 — March 12, 2012
M. Coburn Williams
M. Coburn Williams, age 83, passed away on March 12 in Logan, Utah from pancreatic cancer.
He had a wonderful life as a distinguished scientist, an accomplished musician, and an avid skier with a loving wife, two loving daughters, and a grandson, Steven, of whom he was very proud.
Coburn was born January 28, 1929 in Osage City, Kansas to Luther Gustav and Mary T. Williams.
A Kansas State University graduate, he received a BS degree and a Masters degree in 1951. He then attended the University of Illinois where received his PhD. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant from 1952-1954 during the Korean War. In 1953 he was married to Marilyn Williams and they moved to Logan in 1956.
From 1956 until his retirement in 1989, Dr. Williams was a Research Plant Physiologist, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Adjunct Professor of Biology at Utah State University. He conducted research on the physiology, ecology, and control of poisonous weeds. He identified, for the first time, poisonous compounds in over 300 species of plants in North/South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. He was an international authority on poisonous compounds in the genus Astragalus. He authored over 150 scholarly publications.
Upon moving to Logan, Coburn started doing two activities that he would do for the next 55 years:
Skiing at Beaver Mountain and playing the organ at the Logan First Presbyterian Church.
Coburn’s greatest passion was skiing at Beaver Mountain, & he was still skiing last year at the age of 82. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the USU Emeriti. In the summer months, Coburn and his wife, Marilyn, took weekly hikes around Tony Grove Lake. He also conducted annual wildflower tours at Tony Grove for the USU Emeriti.
He was very proud of his Welsh heritage and made three trips to Wales to visit relatives. Coburn’s principal hobby was genealogy, and he published four books on the histories of his and Marilyn’s families.
Coburn is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn; daughter, Sue Williams and grandson, Steven Sutlovic of Seattle, WA; sister, Peggy Boren of Bandera, TX. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jane Ann Williams, and mother, Mary T. Williams.
A memorial service to honor and celebrate Coburn’s life will be held at a future date. Memorials may be made to the Pipe Organ Fund at the First Presbyterian church in Logan, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net
M. Coburn Williams, age 83, passed away on March 12 in Logan, Utah from pancreatic cancer.
He had a wonderful life as a distinguished scientist, an accomplished musician, and an avid skier with a loving wife, two loving daughters, and a grandson, Steven, of whom he was very proud.
Coburn was born January 28, 1929 in Osage City, Kansas to Luther Gustav and Mary T. Williams.
A Kansas State University graduate, he received a BS degree and a Masters degree in 1951. He then attended the University of Illinois where received his PhD. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant from 1952-1954 during the Korean War. In 1953 he was married to Marilyn Williams and they moved to Logan in 1956.
From 1956 until his retirement in 1989, Dr. Williams was a Research Plant Physiologist, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Adjunct Professor of Biology at Utah State University. He conducted research on the physiology, ecology, and control of poisonous weeds. He identified, for the first time, poisonous compounds in over 300 species of plants in North/South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. He was an international authority on poisonous compounds in the genus Astragalus. He authored over 150 scholarly publications.
Upon moving to Logan, Coburn started doing two activities that he would do for the next 55 years:
Skiing at Beaver Mountain and playing the organ at the Logan First Presbyterian Church.
Coburn’s greatest passion was skiing at Beaver Mountain, & he was still skiing last year at the age of 82. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the USU Emeriti. In the summer months, Coburn and his wife, Marilyn, took weekly hikes around Tony Grove Lake. He also conducted annual wildflower tours at Tony Grove for the USU Emeriti.
He was very proud of his Welsh heritage and made three trips to Wales to visit relatives. Coburn’s principal hobby was genealogy, and he published four books on the histories of his and Marilyn’s families.
Coburn is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn; daughter, Sue Williams and grandson, Steven Sutlovic of Seattle, WA; sister, Peggy Boren of Bandera, TX. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jane Ann Williams, and mother, Mary T. Williams.
A memorial service to honor and celebrate Coburn’s life will be held at a future date. Memorials may be made to the Pipe Organ Fund at the First Presbyterian church in Logan, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of M. Coburn Williams, please visit our flower store.
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