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Robert L. Williams, age 90, of good Samaritan Home, formerly of 69 Lincoln Hill NE, died Tuesday, October 3, 2006 in Blessing Hospital. (NEEDS TIME OF DEATH)Mr. Williams was born January 22, 1916 in Loveland, Ohio, a son of Louis V. and Lois Brown Williams.On June 27, 1946, he married Jane Peter Higgins in Grand Haven, MI. She preceded him in death on May 12, 1999.An Eighth Air Force fighter pilot during WWII, Captain Williams flew ground support, bomber escort, and scouting missions out of England, from D-Day to VE-Day, flying 70 combat missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and the European Theater ribbon with five battle stars.Prior to military service he attended the University of Cincinnati in a school-work program sponsored by Cincinnati Milling Machine Company. Following his Air Force service he began work in 1945 with Gardner-Denver's Keller Tool Division in Grand Haven, Michigan. He became advertising manager of that division in 1951 and moved to Quincy in 1957 as advertising manager for industrial products. He was appointed advertising and sales promotion manager for all Gardner-Denver products in 1958, a position he held until his retirement in 1976.Mr. Williams was a member and a former trustee of First Union Congregational Church. He had been a member of Kiwanis, Family Service Agency Board, Junior Achievement Advisors, Association of Industrial Advertisers, Gardner-Denver Quarter Century Club, Quincy Country Club, and the Quincy Airport Commission.Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Gille of Colorado Springs, CO; four grandchildren: Tracy Hagman and Laura Obert and her husband, Wayne, of Quincy; Brian Goeppner of Springfield, MO; Renee Dell'Accio of Dallas, TX; four great-grandchildren: Benjamin Goeppner, Alexis Obert, and Nicole Obert, all of Quincy, and Olivia Dell'Accio of Dallas, TX.In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter Nancy Hagman; his parents; and two brothers: William H. Williams, in action during WWII; and Louis V. Williams.A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Wentzel officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Lake Forest Cemetery in Grand Haven, MI at a later date. Memorials made to First Union Congregatinal Church or to Salvation Army Hometown Endowment in Mr. William's name would be greatly appreciated. |
