Obituaries
Alice Williams
Former Saratogan Alice Malone Williams died in her Wimberley, Texas, home on April 21. She was 69.
Born Sept. 28, 1931, in Houston, Texas, Williams attended Kinkaid School in Houston, St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Randolph Macon College in Virginia and the University of Texas in Austin. While at Randolph Macon, she met Jack Williams, who was attending the Naval Academy.
The couple married on Dec. 29, 1952. Jack's career with the U.S. Air Force, and later as an executive with General Electric, relocated the couple and their children to New Mexico, Louisiana, New York, California, New Jersey and Japan.
Williams' first love was her family and friends. She involved herself deeply in her childrens' education and was one of the founding members of the Los Gatos- Saratoga Observation Nursery School, where all five of her children attended. She also was an avid supporter of the arts and sciences; among the many organizations to which she belonged were the Youth Science Institute--which maintains Nature Centers in both Los Gatos and Saratoga, the Saratoga Community Garden and VITA.
"She held an open door and a dazzling smile for everyone," recalls daughter-in-law Amy Williams. "Many people, young and old, enjoyed her hospitality and her good food. She was famous for her Christmas Eve parties. She knew no strangers."
Survivors include husband Jack Williams Jr. of Wimberley, Texas; son Jim Williams of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; sons and daughters-in-law Bob and Dana Williams of Cupertino, and David and Amy Williams of Saratoga; daughter Linda Williams Allen of Wimberley, Texas; and daughter and son-in-law Mary and Ed Matlack of San Jose; grandchildren Malone and Cameron Allen; Tess, Cole, Riley, Emily and Darby Williams and Clara Matlack; sister Dorothy Malone Gumbert; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Goodwill, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Observation Nursery School, or to a charity of choice.
Elza Viks
Los Gatos resident Elza Marija Viks died on April 13, at the age of 84.
Born Jan. 30, 1917, in Riga, Latvia, Viks escaped to Germany following World War II. She was later sponsored to come to the United States in 1951. She was a lifetime member of Daugavas Vanagi, a Latvian organization. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, studying history and spending time with her family.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Karina and Juris Dundurs of Los Gatos; and grandchildren Michael and Brittany Dundurs, also of Los Gatos.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to the Saratoga Adult Care Center.
Susan Heller
Susan "Sue" May Heller of Los Gatos died on April 26, in her home, following a battle with breast cancer. She was 56.
Heller was born Sept. 17, 1944, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1966, from the University of Wisconsin, after which time she lived and worked in New York, London and Toronto before moving to San Francisco, where the Nabisco Corporation employed her as a regional sales representative.
In 1984, she married Herman J. Heller and worked for the Heller Construction Company until recently.
Survivors include husband Herman J. Heller of Los Gatos; son Scott Andrew Heller; stepchildren Erica and Hans Heller; mother Helen May Lipton of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; and sister Jane Lipton Stebbins of Boulder, Colo.
Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1150 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 7-A, San Jose, 95128, or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas, 75265-0309.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
