Robert H. Williams, 89
Robert H. Williams, 89, Atlantic, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. He had been living in the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center for the past four years.
Bob was born July 24, 1924, in Sioux City, the son of Harry and Irene Murray Williams. He was raised in Atlantic and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1942.
He married his high school sweetheart, Janice Ruth Clithero, Aug. 24, 1947, at the home of her parents, Maurice and Rocetha Clithero.
Bob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Simpson College in 1950 and his master’s degree from Drake in 1959.
Bob spent 30 years in education as a teacher, coach, principal or superintendent in Shipley, Massena, Exira, Red Oak, South Page and Villisca. He was a salesman for Mo-Kan Chemical Company for nine years before retiring in 1986.
Bob was inducted into the Simpson College Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame for Officials in 2007.
The highlight of his career was working the finals for the girls’ tournament in 1964 and 1965 at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines. His sons fondly remember traveling to schools all across western Iowa during his 10 years as a basketball official.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Janice, Aug. 21, 2012; his parents; father and mother-in-law, Maurice and Rocetha Clithero; brother-in-law, Tom Clithero; and brothers Bill, Wayne and Mick Anderson.
Survivors include five children, Jon of the Czech Republic, Bill (Evonne) of Omaha, Dan (Linda) of Savannah, Ga., Jane (Doug) DeVries of Des Moines and Joe of Los Angeles; grandchildren, Beau Williams of Hawaii, Aisha Kamala of Chico, Calif., Andrew (Melissa) Williams of Savannah, Joseph Williams of Omaha, Jason (Tina) Schafer of Atlanta, Brian Schafer of Des Moines, Lt. Ben (Michelle) Williams of Fort Riley, Kan., Lt. Tom Williams in Afghanistan, Lt. Sam Williams in Okinawa, Max Williams of Omaha and Jack Williams of Los Angeles; great-grandchildren, Elijah and Caleb Williams of Savannah, Colin Schafer of Atlanta and Reagan Williams of Fort Riley.
A memorial service will be Friday, Dec. 27 at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic at 10 a.m.