Edith Derby Williams

Edith Roosevelt Derby Williams was born on June 17, 1917, in New York City. She was the daughter of Dr. Richard Derby and Ethel Carow Roosevelt, making her a member of the Roosevelt family. Her maternal grandparents were President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt. Williams was the second child of her parents and the eldest daughter.

She was involved in Republican politics and participated in the 1960 Republican National Convention, where she seconded the nomination of Richard Nixon. Williams was also active in community health initiatives, including founding the Vashon Island Health Center. She served as the Republican Committeewoman for the state of Washington for four decades.

In 1975, Williams was appointed to the board of trustees for the University of Washington, a position she held until 1981. She also served on the board of trustees for the Theodore Roosevelt Association, an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt. In 2004, she was honored with the Rose Award by the association for her extensive service.

Williams received recognition for her work in conservation and environmental health advocacy, focusing on reducing pollution and promoting healthier environments.

In 1941, she married Andrew "Mike" Murray Williams, who was born in 1916 and died in 1998. The couple moved to Washington state after World War II, settling in the Seattle area in 1946. Their residence was located on Federal Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle and was designed by architect Carl Gould. The house contained significant historical artifacts, including china from the Roosevelt White House, some of which are now housed in the Smithsonian Institution.

Edith and Andrew Williams had three children: Andrew Murray Jr. (1942–2004), Richard Derby (born 1944), and Sarah Gilmore (born 1948). Bruce K. Chapman, her son-in-law married to Sarah, is also recognized as part of her family.

She passed away on June 8, 2008, at the age of 90, after breaking her hip at her residence on Vashon Island, Washington.