Individual Details
Robert Wilmont Williams
(18 Feb 1921 - 10 Aug 1997)
Robert Wilmont Williams was born 18 February 1921, at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. He briefly attended Ozark Bible College in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas, where he met and married on 22 August 1940, Mary Louise Hudson, daughter of Robert David and Mary Louise (Roberts) Hudson, who was born 3 April 1920 in Alpena, Boone County, Arkansas.
Robert attended Illinois College in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, and graduated with a B.A. Following graduation he joined the Army as a Chaplain. After the service, he attended Brite Bible College at Texas Christian University, where he received his D.B. degree and was ordained as a minister of the Christian Church (Diciples of Chirst). He had begun work on a doctorate in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago when the Korean War broke out. He was recalled into the service, and decided to mke the Chaplaincy his career. During more than twenty years in the service he served as a chaplain in Korea during the Korean War and in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At other times he was stationed in Japan and in Germany. Eventually he was appointed chief chaplain of the 101st Airborne Division. During that period of time he took paratroop training and made many jumps with the troops. He always jumped with a new class of paratroopers making their first jump.
He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to the civilian ministry. At the age of 47 he became minister of Roodhouse (Illinois) Christian Church, where his father had also gone as a minister when he was 47. He was later minister of the Sunnyside Christian Church in Peoria, Illinois. Following his pastorate there he developed a specialized interim ministry, in which he worked with churches for short periods of time to facilitate the transition from one minister to another.
Robert is a poet and song-writer. He has written many hymns and other songs as well as poetry. One of his hymns was written for, and used at the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which was held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1968. He is currently (1994) writing his autobiography.
In a tragic turn of events, their daughter, Margaret, was murdered while they were stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany in 1963. As a result of this experience, Mary wrote a small book, 'SORROW SPEAKS", to help others work through their grief at the loss of a loved one.
They are currently (1994) living in Springfield, Illinois.
There were three (3) children born of the marriage.
The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois, August 12, 1997: The Rev. Robert W. Williams, 76, of Springfield died Sunday at St. John's Hospice. He was born Feb. 18, 1921, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Wilbur W. and Florence Kirkpatrick Williams. He married Mary L. Hudson in 1940. The Rev. Williams was ordained to the ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1944. He spent 23 years in Army chaplaincy with overseas tours in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Germany and Vietnam. Nine years were in Airborne units, including the 11th Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. After retiring from the Army he had two pastorates in Illinois and nine resident interim pastorates in Illinois and Nebraska. He was a graduate of Illinois College, a member of First Christian Church, American Legion Post 32, Springfield Golden K Kiwanis Club, and life member of the Military Chaplains Association and the Retired Officers Association. Survivors: wife, Mary L.; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Marianne) Stowers of Springfield; a son, the Rev. Evan David Williams of Council Bluffs, Iowa; eight grandchildren; a brother, Vincent Williams of Dubuque, Iowa; a sister, Mrs. David (Kay) Hudson of Iowa City, Iowa; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Remains will be cremated. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Aug. 19, First Christian Church, the Rev. C. Bruce Naylor officiating. Private interment: Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Robert attended Illinois College in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, and graduated with a B.A. Following graduation he joined the Army as a Chaplain. After the service, he attended Brite Bible College at Texas Christian University, where he received his D.B. degree and was ordained as a minister of the Christian Church (Diciples of Chirst). He had begun work on a doctorate in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago when the Korean War broke out. He was recalled into the service, and decided to mke the Chaplaincy his career. During more than twenty years in the service he served as a chaplain in Korea during the Korean War and in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At other times he was stationed in Japan and in Germany. Eventually he was appointed chief chaplain of the 101st Airborne Division. During that period of time he took paratroop training and made many jumps with the troops. He always jumped with a new class of paratroopers making their first jump.
He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to the civilian ministry. At the age of 47 he became minister of Roodhouse (Illinois) Christian Church, where his father had also gone as a minister when he was 47. He was later minister of the Sunnyside Christian Church in Peoria, Illinois. Following his pastorate there he developed a specialized interim ministry, in which he worked with churches for short periods of time to facilitate the transition from one minister to another.
Robert is a poet and song-writer. He has written many hymns and other songs as well as poetry. One of his hymns was written for, and used at the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which was held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1968. He is currently (1994) writing his autobiography.
In a tragic turn of events, their daughter, Margaret, was murdered while they were stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany in 1963. As a result of this experience, Mary wrote a small book, 'SORROW SPEAKS", to help others work through their grief at the loss of a loved one.
They are currently (1994) living in Springfield, Illinois.
There were three (3) children born of the marriage.
The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois, August 12, 1997: The Rev. Robert W. Williams, 76, of Springfield died Sunday at St. John's Hospice. He was born Feb. 18, 1921, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Wilbur W. and Florence Kirkpatrick Williams. He married Mary L. Hudson in 1940. The Rev. Williams was ordained to the ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1944. He spent 23 years in Army chaplaincy with overseas tours in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Germany and Vietnam. Nine years were in Airborne units, including the 11th Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. After retiring from the Army he had two pastorates in Illinois and nine resident interim pastorates in Illinois and Nebraska. He was a graduate of Illinois College, a member of First Christian Church, American Legion Post 32, Springfield Golden K Kiwanis Club, and life member of the Military Chaplains Association and the Retired Officers Association. Survivors: wife, Mary L.; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Marianne) Stowers of Springfield; a son, the Rev. Evan David Williams of Council Bluffs, Iowa; eight grandchildren; a brother, Vincent Williams of Dubuque, Iowa; a sister, Mrs. David (Kay) Hudson of Iowa City, Iowa; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Remains will be cremated. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Aug. 19, First Christian Church, the Rev. C. Bruce Naylor officiating. Private interment: Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Events
| Birth | 18 Feb 1921 | Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa | |||
| Marriage | 22 Aug 1940 | Harrison, Boone Co., Arkansas - Mary Louise Hudson | |||
| Death | 10 Aug 1997 | Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois |  | ||
| Title (Nobility) | Rev. | ||||
| Burial | Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Louise Hudson (1920 - 2012) |
| Child | Marianne Williams (1942 - ) |
| Child | Margaret Lillian Williams (1948 - 1963) |
| Child | Evan David Williams (1955 - ) |
| Father | Wilbur Worthington Williams (1893 - 1974) |
| Mother | Florence Lillian Kirkpatrick (1896 - 1987) |
| Sibling | Charles Wilbur Williams (1917 - 1992) |
| Sibling | James Willard Williams (1923 - 1983) |
| Sibling | Vivian Kay Williams (1937 - ) |
| Sibling | Vincent Wray Williams (1937 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Social Security Death Index.