Ethan Max Williams, 8 CAMDEN - Ethan Max Williams, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 28, 2010, in Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, after a courageous 14 month battle with an inoperable brain tumor known as Diffuse Pontine Glioma (DPG), with his parents and step-parents by his side. He was 8. Ethan is the son of Michelle (Valentine) Burgess of Camden and D. Michael Williams of Dover. He was born August 8, 2001 in Dover. Ethan was a 3rd grader at Allen Frear Elementary School in Camden, and a proud member of the Caesar Rodney Talented and Gifted program. Ethan was also a kindergarten graduate of Calvary Christian Academy, Dover, and a cherished pupil of Love and Learn Daycare Center, Dover. He attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Wyoming United Methodist Church. Other accomplishments for Ethan include being chosen as the Bow Country "Man of the Year" for 2009, and being an honorary member of the Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company and the Wyoming United Methodist Church softball team. Ethan dearly loved baseball and played for the Dover Little League in the Tee Ball, Pee Wee, and Minor League programs. For his dedication, Ethan was chosen to throw out the honorary "First Pitch" to start the 2009 Little League season. Ethan was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. His favorite player was 2nd Baseman Chase Utley, whom Ethan got to meet in August of 2009. Ethan attended Game 5 of the 2009 World Series, when the Phillies beat the Yankees 8-6, led by two home runs from Chase Utley. Ethan will always be remembered as a very gifted student, amazing ball player, special friend, and role model to many. Ethan loved to collect coins, and spent many hours viewing and improving his cherished collection. He knew much more than most adults when it came to coin collecting, and was always eager to tell everybody about each of his pennies, nickels, and quarters. While spending time with his family, he loved to play board games, card games, do math problems, and draw pictures. Although his life was short, Ethan lived life to the fullest. No one will ever forget his jokes, impressions, and his amazing ability to touch the souls of everyone he met. During the course of his illness, Ethan was treated to many special trips and privileges. These included going to the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series Ring Ceremony game in April 2009, courtesy of the Front Row Foundation, attending a concert and meeting David Cook at the Delaware State Fair courtesy of the Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation, and getting a personal tour of the Citizens Bank Park and being able to meet Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies. He was also invited to drop the puck at a Philadelphia Phantoms hockey game. And only a week prior to his passing, Ethan and his family were treated to a Philadelphia Flyers game and were able to sit in Captain Mike Richards' suite to watch the game, courtesy of the Little Smiles Organization. Ethan was also chosen as a 2009 Delaware State Fair All-Star Youth of the Day. Thanks to the generosity of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ethan was granted a special trip to Florida with his parents, step-parents and brother, Jake in September 2009. Highlights included getting to attend three baseball games of the Phillies vs. Florida Marlins, touring the Everglades, and visiting and swimming in Miami Beach. Ethan was able to give the Gift of Life in the form of donations of his kidneys and corneas to other patients in need. His liver was also donated for research of the effects of chemotherapy and his tumor was given for research of possible new understanding and treatment of Diffuse Pontine Glioma. Ethan was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandfathers, Johnny Valentine of Marietta, Ohio and Thomas O'Connor of Liverpool, England; his maternal great-grandmother, Florence O'Connor of Liverpool, England; his paternal great-grandparents, Harvey and Clara Fifer of Rising Sun, and Dr. Arnold and Mildred Williams of Laurel; his maternal grandmother, Marina Valentine of Dover; his paternal grandfather, David R. Williams of Dover; and an uncle, Max Laird of Dover. In addition to his parents, Ethan is survived by his step-father, Jon Burgess and his step-mother, Dawn Melson-Williams; his brother, Jacob Williams; and his step-brother and sister, Alek and Arynne Burgess. He is also survived on his mother's side by his great-grandmother, Genevieve Valentine of Marietta, Ohio; his grandfather, Charley Valentine of Dover; his aunts, Lisa Phillips and Karen Marvel of Dover, and Julie Laird of Montague, Mass.; his uncle, Mark Valentine of Raleigh, N.C.; his cousins, Leah Keefe of Shutesbury, Mass. and Lauren Brewster of Dover; his great-uncle, Charlie Batey of Dover; his step-grandparents, Libby Burgess of Hampden, Mass. and Robert Burgess of Dover; and his step-aunts, Betsy Duran of Oregon and Robin Burgess of Hampden, Mass. He is survived on his father's side by paternal grandmother, Yvonne Williams of Dover; his step-grandparents, Rev. Diane Melson and Frank E. Melson Jr. of Bridgeville; uncles, Jeff Williams and his wife, Tanya of Dover and Greg Williams of Dover; his step-aunt, Diana Zlock and her husband, Robert; and his cousins, Nathan Williams, Emma Zlock and Daniel Zlock. He is also survived by many other great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins; his best friend, Seth Blanchfield; and his beloved dogs, Izzie, Oreo and Nutter Butter. Friends called from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, February 1, at the Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Rd., Dover. Services were 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 2, at the church. Burial followed in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the following: Jacob Williams Education Fund, c/o the 1st National Bank of Wyoming, Attn: Christina, 800 S. Governor's Ave., Dover, DE 19904; or to the Wyoming United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 389, Wyoming, DE 19934-0389. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.