On March 21, 2025, at the age of 97, John Shober Williams passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. His was a life defined by quiet service, enduring faith, and a deep love for Ben Lippen School.

Born in Brussels, Belgium on September 6, 1927, to missionaries Jonathan Guest and Margaret Williams, John was immersed in a heritage of faith and service from the start. When his father was commissioned to open Ben Lippen Boys School, John was enrolled even before the doors were opened. He often recalled those early days of faith-filled uncertainty, vision, and prayer.

In 1940, with only 90 days, no teachers, no equipment, and no guarantees, Jonathan Guest Williams was appointed by  Robert C. McQuilkin Sr. to launch Ben Lippen Boys School. Relying solely on prayer and God's provision, he transformed the Conference Inn into a functioning Christian boarding school. Faculty received no fixed salaries, living month-to-month on gifts. This extraordinary leap of faith defined the school’s DNA: Christ-centered, prayer-led, and mission-driven. Amid this bold beginning stood his son, John Shober Williams, bearing witness to the miracle of Ben Lippen’s founding.

After graduating, John attended Houghton College and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later earned his degree from Wheaton College and began a lifelong career in service and innovation, first as a teacher and principal, then with the Army Ordnance Corps, and finally with the CIA. There, he worked for more than four decades in systems programming, artificial intelligence research, and exploratory computing.

Throughout it all, John and his beloved wife, Ellen, lived a life marked by generosity, humility, and devotion. They raised six children and faithfully supported Ben Lippen through the decades. Their commitment to Christian education was most visible in their support of a special scholarship with deep family roots.

In 1991, John's mother, Margaret Williams, established a scholarship to honor her late husband as the founding Headmaster of Ben Lippen School. John and Ellen embraced the vision, giving monthly for many years and eventually becoming the scholarship’s largest donors. Their support, with other family and friends, have helped 35 students receive a Christ-centered education at Ben Lippen. After Margaret’s passing, the scholarship was renamed to honor both her and her husband, continuing their legacy of faith and generosity.

The legacy of the Williams family is not only etched in Ben Lippen’s history but lives on through the scholarship that bears their name. John and Ellen’s faithful giving extended that legacy. Their story is one of three generations building a future rooted in faith.

John’s life was a living testimony to the values Ben Lippen holds dear: service, excellence, and unwavering faith in God’s provision. His story began with the school’s founding and his influence will continue for generations through every student blessed by the Jonathan Guest and Margaret Williams Memorial Scholarship.

We thank God for the life and legacy of John Shober Williams - Ben Lippen’s first student, and forever part of our family.

Click here to join Ellen and the extended Williams family with a gift to this student scholarship, or write Williams as the note on your check.