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Memorial Saturday for ‘Lumpy’ Williams

A memorial service and celebration for David “Lumpy” Williams will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, beginning at 1 p.m. at Sebastiani Theatre, on the Sonoma Plaza.

Afterward, a celebratory party will continue to honor Williams at MacArthur Place, 29 E. MacArthur St.

Williams died suddenly Oct. 16, while at the wheel of his car on his way to meet his sister Judith Tree Williams in Marin. He was able to pull off busy Highway 101, out of harms way, and stop the car, before succumbing to what is believed to have been a sudden cardiac arrest.

Williams was widely known and loved in Sonoma County and beyond for his many acts of kindness, his support for countless community causes and for his decades-long role as the dedicated Santa Clause of Sonoma Valley.

As part of a long-standing tradition, Williams arrived at the Sonoma Plaza in an antique fire engine at the start of each Christmas season, for the lighting of the enormous fir tree and City Hall.

He would then pay countless visits around the Plaza before stopping at the Sonoma Community Center where he held court and listened to children’s wishes.

Williams was known universally as “Lumpy,” a nickname bestowed by his brother, Gary, who was a fan of the character of that name on the “Leave it to Beaver” TV show.

According to Roger Rhoten, manager, major domo and guiding hand of the Sebastiani Theatre – as well as a close friend of Lumpy – the memorial service will feature numerous speakers, including Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders, former fire chief Mike Cahill and Tree Williams.

There will be a slide show of Lumpy’s life, live music from Tommy Thomsen, Dave Aguilar and Tudo Bem and others, and Rhoten said Thursday he will try to set speakers in the theatre arcade to handle a possible over-flow crowd.

Rhoten said the celebration will move to MacArthur Place sometime around 2:15 p.m.

Given the large and loving following Lumpy Williams had in Sonoma, memorial attendees are advised to arrive early.