Robert Williams

Robert H. Williams, 89, of Atlantic, died Sunday morning, December 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 on July 24, 1924 in Sioux City, the son of Harry and Irene (Murray) Williams. He was raised in Atlantic and graduated from AHS in 1942. He married his high school sweetheart, Janice Ruth Clithero, on August 24, 1947 at the home of her parents, Maurice and Rocetha Clithero.

Bob received his B.A. from Simpson College in 1950 and his Master's Degree from Drake in 1959. He spent 30 years in education as a teacher, coach, principal or superintendent at 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 girl's tournament in 1964 and 1965 at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines. His sons fondly remember traveling to schools all over western Iowa during his ten years as a basketball official.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Janice, on August 21, 2012, his parents, father and mother-in-law, Maurice and Rocetha Clithero, brother-in-law, Tom Clithero, and brother's Bill, Wayne, and Mick Anderson.

Survivors include five children, Jon of the Czech Republic, Bill (Evonne) of Omaha, Dan (Linda) of Savannah, Georgia, Jane (Doug) DeVries of Des Moines and Joe of Los Angeles. Grandchildren, Beau Williams of Hawaii, Aisha Kamala, of Chico, California, Andrew (Melissa) Williams of Savannah, Georgia, Joseph Williams of Omaha, Jason (Tina) Schafer of Atlanta, Georgia, Brian Schafer of Des Moines, LT Ben (Michelle) Williams of Fort Riley, Kansas, 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, Savannah, Georgia, Colin Schafer, Atlanta, Georgia, and Reagan Williams, Fort Riley, Kansas.

A memorial service will be held Friday, December 27, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic.