Charles William Williams, 86, born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and a longtime resident of Palm Desert, California, died at his home after a long-term illness. Calm, fair-minded and cool-headed, with a wonderful sense of humor, Charles was a successful newspaper publisher in the Chicago area before moving to the desert in 1986 with his wife of 38 years, Diane. He leaves behind good friends at The Lakes Country Club, Indian Wells Country Club (where he played golf with a group of buddies nearly every day) and Indian Ridge, which he and Diane joined in 1999. His favorite pastime after he was no longer able to play golf was lunching with friends at JK's and taking his dogs for long walks and to the dog park. Before moving west, Charles was the publisher/owner of the Star Publications in Chicago Heights, along with his brother William E. Williams. Under his leadership, the Star became one of the largest suburban newspapers in the country, serving 39 southern suburbs with 114,000 circulation and more than 320 employees. Charles also served as president of the Cook County Publisher's Association and on the board of the First National Bank in Chicago Heights for many years. He was an active member of Olympia Fields Country Club and Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort, Illinois. After selling the newspaper in December 1986, Charles and Diane split their time between the desert and Beaver Creek, Colorado. An avid athlete, Charles excelled in handball, racquetball, skiing and tennis. He worked out at a health club regularly for more than 50 years. He graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa after serving as an Army cryptographer during the Korean War. He later obtained a graduate degree in business from the University of Chicago. Charles was proud of the fact that the Star had an employee turnover rate of less than 2 percent annually during his years as CEO. In retirement, Diane was his soul mate and best friend. They traveled the world and enjoyed life to the fullest. Chuck designed two homes they built, one in Frankfort, Illinois, and another at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Arizona. He also devoted himself to writing, completing novels and a children's book. In addition to his wife, Diane, Charles is survived by his brother, William E. Williams of Palm Desert, California; his sister Carolyn Bercaw of Willoughby, Ohio; his son Norman of Burlington, Vermont, and his wife Lucy Totten and their two children Elinor and Cameron; his daughter Sue Fox of Brooklyn, New York, and her husband Girard and their daughter Charlotte; his son Mark of Estes Park, Colorado; and his daughter Judith Ehrlich of Montpelier, Vermont, and her husband Brent and their two children, Isabella and Charles. A Celebration of Life will be held at Forest Lawn in Cathedral City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the chapel.
