Barbara Williams Credit: Courtesy
Barbara Ann Williams (née Wurster), age 80, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2025, in Catonsville, Md., after a prolonged journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born on August 13, 1945, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Barbara was the oldest of seven children of Warren and Jean (née Yolton) Wurster. Her family moved to Barrington, R.I., where she graduated from high school in 1963. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire in 1967, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and she received a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Vermont in 1971. In 1979, she received a bachelor’s degree in music (piano performance and history) from the University of Vermont.
She married Calvin John Williams on June 17, 1967, in Barrington, R.I., moving first to St., Louis, Mo., and then to Vermont, where she lived until moving to Maryland in 2018. She taught high school math in both St. Louis and Essex Junction, Vt., as well as calculus at the University of Vermont, before pursuing her love of music. A beloved mother, she gave birth to a daughter, Megan Lyn Williams (Knysak), on January 16, 1979, in Burlington, Vt., to whom she passed on a multigenerational love of music.
Barbara was both a wonderful pianist and an amazing piano teacher. She taught piano in a home studio for 40 years, making a difference in the lives of countless students, sending numerous studio newsletters From the Studio of Barbara Williams and baking many cookies for studio workshops and recitals. She was a leader within the Vermont music community and held leadership positions in the Vermont branch of the Music Teachers National Association (VMTA) for many years, as well as with other Vermont musical organizations. She performed actively with Greenfield Piano Associates through her own beloved piano teacher, Elaine Greenfield, and performed with her best friend and duet partner, Anne McGuire. Barbara supported the Vermont music scene, attending concerts with her husband, Calvin, and with her music teacher friends. Barbara and Calvin spent many vacations traveling to destinations, including Maine, Ireland, Spain and various islands in the Caribbean.
A loving sister, wife, mother and grandmother, Barbara is survived by her husband, Calvin Williams; her daughter, Megan, son-in-law, Benjamin and grandchildren, Adelaide and Sylvia Knysak of Columbia, Md.; and six siblings: Richard Wurster of Stamford, Conn.; Michael Wurster of Acton, Mass.; Kathleen Wurster of Newark, Del.; Mary Wurster of New Castle, Del.; Thomas Wurster of Los Angeles; and Leslie Colomb of Salem, S.C.
All family and friends are invited to a celebration of life ceremony to be held in Catonsville, Md., on March 20, 2026, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the Adamant Music School, the Vermont Music Teachers Association, the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association or the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.
