James (Jim) Willard Webster, age 87, of Speedwell, Tennessee and Ludlow, Vermont, passed away in his sleep of natural causes on August 23, 2023 at his home in Tennessee.

Born on August 25, 1935 in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Charles and Freda B. Webster, Jim graduated from Central High School in Aberdeen.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1958, and was later involved in their alumni recruitment programs.   He joined ROTC and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army having spent some time on active duty and finishing in the Reserves.  Jim took graduate courses at the University of Connecticut, University of Michigan and University of Hawaii and earned his Master’s Degree from the University of New Haven in Industrial Engineering.


Everyone who knew Jim, knows that he lived a life that was full and did things his way. Therefore, for a summary of his professional life, we will share Jim’s own description of his career path:

I basically had 2 positions since graduation, one at a Navy Research and Development (R&D) laboratory in New London, CT, and the Naval Underwater Systems Center (NUSC) about 20 years and one in a commercial R&D organization Bolt, Beranek, and Newman (BBN) in Cambridge, MA, for about 25-30 years. I had about 5 jobs at each location. At NUSC I started as a Sonar Engineer and was then the Program Manager for the AN/ SQS-26 sonar. I then went to the Third Fleet in Honolulu as a technical representative supporting sonar systems and fleet exercises, I then returned to NUWC and worked on sonar systems development. Then I was selected as Science Advisor to the Commander of the US Seventh Fleet in Japan, Vice Admiral Tom Hayward and Robert Baldwin where I supported Anti-Submarine Warfare efforts and received the SUPERIOR CIVILIAN SERVICE AWARD for my work. Upon returning to NUWC, I managed the fleet scientific advisory department before going to an assignment in the Pentagon in support of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare (OP-02). Then I returned to NUWC as the Chief Engineer of the Submarine Sonar Department and went to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) as manager of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program. I then left government service and went into private industry working for BBN as manager of the sonar technology department in New London, CT. With the closing of the New London portion of NUWC, I went to work in the BBN Cambridge headquarters. I became Vice President and manager of the Mobile Networking Systems Department. I held the position for three years and then became program coordinator of all BBN DARPA programs and then moved to an Emeritus position.

Throughout his lifetime, Jim valued hard work and education, and was also generous with his family in the form of recreation and travel.  He traveled each and every highway by airplane, train, car, aircraft carrier and submarine.  Teaching his children to water ski and snow ski from a very early age has influenced their continued love of these sports. His culinary exploits tended toward goulash, Diet Dr. Pepper and McDonald’s, but his love of fun was reflected in his retirement business card that read “Jim Webster, Man of Leisure Seeking Adventure!”  Relocating his family to Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1970s and to Yokosuka, Japan in the mid-1970s formed lasting impressions on his daughters’ interests today.  Family vacations throughout his retirement were highlights of his granddaughters’ childhoods. In his retirement, Jim volunteered his time as a mentor for students at his local Tennessee high school, Jellico High School.  His final request for a family jazz funeral in New Orleans to celebrate his life encapsulates how he did things his way.

Another of Jim’s exceptional accomplishments was to design and build two beautiful homes, one on a lake in the Tennessee Valley Authority and one on a ski mountain in Vermont. He planned each chartered course, each careful step, to bring these dreams to fruition and these homes have brought and will continue to bring great joy to his family and will remain a lasting legacy of his talents, wisdom and achievement.

Jim is survived by his wife Marilyn Mary Webster (née Tietyen) of Ludlow, Vermont, his two daughters Terri-Jo Webster Woellner (Robert Alexander Woellner) of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado and Traci Webster Post (Donald Linford Post) of Westford, Massachusetts; his three granddaughters Samantha Miller (née Post) (Austin Miller) of New Hampshire, Stephani Louisa Post of Townsend, Massachusetts and Margaux Noël Woellner of London, United Kingdom; and his one great granddaughter Adalynn Miller. His brother Jack Steven Webster (Jane) of Chandler, Arizona is his only living sibling.

I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest you consider a donation to Jim’s college alma mater by either sending a check to:

South Dakota Mines CARA

330 E Kansas City St, Rapid City, SD 57701. 

Please note in memo that it is in memory of James Webster

Arrangements by Cross-Smith Funeral Home

Condolences may be given online at http://www.cross-smithfuneralhome.com 

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