E. Deming Williams; Horticulturist

E. Deming Williams, horticulturist and former Pierce College instructor, has died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. He was 75.

A Van Nuys resident, Williams died Monday of brain cancer, said his daughter, Deborah Williams of Anchorage, Alaska.

Born in Glendora, Williams grew up near a lemon grove and graduated at age 16 from Citrus High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UC Davis and a teaching credential from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In 1937, Williams joined the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture as a field entomologist in the San Fernando Valley, retiring in 1979. From the late 1960s through 1987, he taught classes in horticulture and agriculture, mainly at night, at Pierce College.

In addition to lecturing throughout Southern California, Williams was a horticulture consultant for golf courses, including the Woodland Hills Country Club, Westlake Golf Course, Braemar Country Club, El Caballero Country Club and Los Angeles Country Club. He also consulted for the Playboy Mansion, the former Busch Gardens in Van Nuys and Los Angeles International Airport.

In addition to his daughter, Williams is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jeanne Williams; sisters Agnes Moffitt of Santa Barbara and Muriel Hailey of Whispering Pines, N.C., and one grandson.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen St. in Chatsworth. J.T. Oswald Mortuary in Reseda is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the E. Deming Williams Scholarship Fund, Pierce College, c/o Don Love, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills 91371.