Robert Williams Obituary

Robert T. "Bob" Williams SUMMERVILLE - Robert T. "Bob" Williams passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2010, in Summerville, South Carolina. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 13, 1926, to Robert and Arline Williams, Bob Williams grew up in Marlton, New Jersey, the oldest of four children. After graduating from Haddonfield Memorial High School (NJ) in 1944, he served as a radio technician with the 44th Bombardment Group in the U.S. Army (AAF) from 1944-1946 before attending Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, on a football scholarship. He graduated in May of 1951 with a major in psychology and business that served him all of his life. On June 16, 1951, he married Anna Lee Martin of Cumberland, Maryland, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their first year of marriage they worked together at a mental hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and had their first son. They then moved to North Carolina where Bob started his long and successful career in sales, and their two daughters were born. They also lived in Salisbury, Maryland, where their youngest son was born, and in Dallas, Texas, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1970 when Bob became vice president of Curtis Industries. He retired from Curtis after twenty years, and he and Ann moved to Plano, Texas, in 1978 to pursue other business interests. Bob and Ann had always planned to retire on the East Coast, and they finalized their plans by moving to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in 1988. While he worked a few accounts in semi-retirement, he spent much of his time for the next twenty years as an active volunteer in the community and the Presbyterian Church. He and Ann both worked as Child Advocates-interviewing parents and writing reports for the court-and he was also very active in the East Cooper Kiwanis Club and the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. Bob served on the church's Pacesetters' Board, chairing the group and arranging for speakers for two years, a period in which attendance at the monthly dinners doubled. He organized and prepared meals for the Ronald McDonald House for the Men of the Church, volunteered in the soup kitchen, and was active in the Genesis Sunday School, even serving as substitute teacher. He also served as an elder and as a member of the Sage Council and Sage Choir. When Bob and Ann weren't volunteering, they were traveling the world, or planning their next trip. They were very active in the Washington College alumni organization and attended their class reunions faithfully until travel became too difficult. In 2002 they moved to the Presbyterian Home retirement community in Summerville, where they continued their busy social and volunteer lives. There Bob took on a new role as a volunteer teacher's aide at Alston Middle School with Ann Peterson and Kathy Bowers. Of all his volunteer activities, "Mr. Bob" was perhaps most proud of his work with the students and teachers there, and he was deeply honored by the Live 5 Golden Apple Award he received in 2005, broadcast on WCSC TV-5. He was especially touched when the students and teachers raised money to replace his scooter, which had been stolen from his home. Bob had a passion for playing golf, watching football and baseball, and for travel. He loved his family and his many friends, his dog Poco, and most of all, Anna Lee. A friend of Bill for almost 50 years, Bob lost his way after Anna Lee died in January of 2010, and struggled to live without her. He leaves to mourn him his children, Martin Edward Williams and his wife Zoraida, Jean Flogaus Kent, Lesley Williams Brunet, and Robert Scott Williams; his grandchildren, Courtney and Rachel Williams, Robert Scott and Katie Williams, Sebastian and Anna Lee Brunet, Scott and Christopher Flogaus, and Laura Taylor-Brunet; his sister, Eleanor Dubreuil; brother-in-law Gaither "Sonny" Martin and his wife Donna; his nieces, nephews and their families, and his many, many friends. The family would like to thank Ann Peterson, Achim Dafin, chaplain, Dr. William Sheldon, the ICU and nursing staff of Summerville Medical Center, and Bob's friends at the Presbyterian Village for their support and helpfulness to the family. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, November 20, 2010, at the Dorchester Presbyterian Church, Rev. Deane Kemper, Pastor, 10290 Dorchester Road, Summerville, South Carolina, 843-871-3572. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina or Washington College, in Chesterland, Maryland. The Williams family is being served by McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 2501 BEES FERRY ROAD, CHARLESTON, SC 29414. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths