EIGHTH GENERATION

3071. Rev. Robert Wilmont Williams was born on 18 Feb 1921 in Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa. He died on 10 Aug 1997 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. ⁽³³³⁾ He was buried in Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. Robert Wilmont Williams was born 18 February 1921, at Des Moines, Polk C ounty, Iowa. He briefly attended Ozark Bible College in Harrison, Boon e County, Arkansas, where he met and married on 22 August 1940, Mary Lo uise Hudson, daughter of Robert David and Mary Louise (Roberts) Hudson, w ho was born 3 April 1920 in Alpena, Boone County, Arkansas.

Robert attended Illinois College in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illino is, and graduated with a B.A. Following graduation he joined the Army a s a Chaplain. After the service, he attended Brite Bible College at Te xas Christian University, where he received his D.B. degree and was ord ained as a minister of the Christian Church (Diciples of Chirst). He h ad begun work on a doctorate in the Divinity School of the University o f Chicago when the Korean War broke out. He was recalled into the serv ice, and decided to mke the Chaplaincy his career. During more than tw enty years in the service he served as a chaplain in Korea during the K orean War and in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At other times he was s tationed in Japan and in Germany. Eventually he was appointed chief ch aplain of the 101st Airborne Division. During that period of time he t ook paratroop training and made many jumps with the troops. He always j umped with a new class of paratroopers making their first jump.

He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to the ci vilian ministry. At the age of 47 he became minister of Roodhouse (Ill inois) Christian Church, where his father had also gone as a minister w hen he was 47. He was later minister of the Sunnyside Christian Church i n Peoria, Illinois. Following his pastorate there he developed a speci alized interim ministry, in which he worked with churches for short per iods 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 s ongs as well as poetry. One of his hymns was written for, and used at t he General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which w as held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1968. He is currently (1994) writin g his autobiography.

In a tragic turn of events, their daughter, Margaret, was murdered whil e they were stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany in 1963. As a result o f this experience, Mary wrote a small book, 'SORROW SPEAKS", to help ot hers 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.

State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL) - 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 W ilbur W. and Florence Kirkpatrick Williams. He married Mary L. Hudson i n 1940. The Rev. Williams was ordained to the ministry in the Christian C hurch (Disciples of Christ) in 1944. He spent 23 years in Army chaplain cy with overseas tours in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Hawaii, German y and Vietnam. Nine years were in Airborne units, including the 11th Ai rborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. After r etiring from the Army he had two pastorates in Illinois and nine reside nt interim pastorates in Illinois and Nebraska.

He was a graduate of Illinois College, a member of First Christian Chur ch, American Legion Post 32, Springfield Golden K Kiwanis Club, and lif e member of the Military Chaplains Association and the Retired Officers A ssociation.

Survivors: wife, Mary L.; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Marianne) Stowers of S pringfield; a son, the Rev. Evan David Williams of Council Bluffs, Iowa ; eight grandchildren; a brother, Vincent Williams of Dubuque, Iowa; a s ister, Mrs. David (Kay) Hudson of Iowa City, Iowa; and several nieces, n ephews and cousins.

Remains will be cremated. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Aug. 19, First Ch ristian Church, the Rev. C. Bruce Naylor officiating. Private interment : Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Rev. Robert Wilmont Williams and Mary Louise Hudson had the following children:

+4552 i. Marianne Williams.
4553 ii. Margaret Lillian Williams was born on 26 Feb 1948 in Sendai, Japan. She died on 8 Jun 1963 in Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
+4554 iii. Evan David Williams.