* Norma Jean Williams; Assistant at College

Norma Jean Williams, a past president of the Simi Valley chapter of the American Assn. of University Women, has died after a lengthy illness. She was 65.

A Simi Valley resident, Williams retired in the spring from Moorpark College, where she had worked as an administrative assistant since 1967, the year the college was founded.

Born Norma Jean O’Dell in Reseda, she attended local schools and in 1946 married Volney Williams, a career officer in the U. S. Air Force whom she met through her parents.

During the first 16 years of their marriage, the couple had four children and lived at military bases around the world, including in Panama, the Philippines and Alaska, her husband said.

They settled in Simi Valley when he retired in 1962.

When the children grew older, Williams returned to school, graduating from Cal State Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in history.

Because of her belief in providing educational opportunities to women, she became active in the local chapter of the AAUW, attending its state and national conventions.

She served as president of the Simi Valley chapter in 1991-92.

As soon as she retired in the spring from Moorpark College, she became a volunteer docent at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley, her husband said.

In addition to her husband, Williams is survived by her daughter, Sharon Pletcher of Santa Barbara, and sons Jeffery of Simi Valley, Michael of Palmdale and Robert of Sherman Oaks, and six grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth.

Arrangements are being handled by Reardon-Simi Valley Mortuary in Simi Valley.