Robert C. Williams Jr.

FAYETTEVILLE - Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Caldwell Williams Jr., 78, of Fayetteville, passed away Sunday, April 24, 2011, at his residence. He was born to the late Robert C. Williams Sr. and Mildred Wynne Williams of Binghamton, N.Y. Mr. Williams attended Marathon High School in Marathon, N.Y. He went on to attend St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., and received his master's degree in public administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. Mr. Williams then joined the Army and served his country proudly for 26 years. Among his service was Korea from 1965-1966 and Vietnam from 1968-1969. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served as deputy provost marshal of the 503rd Military Police on Fort Bragg. Later he was appointed the commander of the Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Bragg. During his military service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. After his military career, he became a professor for the N.C. Justice Academy in Salemburg for 13 years. Following his state retirement, he volunteered for more than 10 years with the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. He was also an active volunteer at his beloved Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Mr. Williams' hobbies included golf, reading and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Melissa Knapp Williams of the home; two daughters, Deborah Anne Freeman of Sanford and Susan Williams of Wilmington; two sons, Robert C. Williams III of Charlotte and David Thomas Williams of Havre de Grace, Md.; a sister, Nancy Palatino of Raleigh; and three grandchildren, Robert Aslan Freeman, Lauren Melissa Williams and Jordan Elizabeth Williams. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with Father Ray Brown officiating. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, with the rendering of full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum or to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Services entrusted to Rogers and Breece Funeral Home of Fayetteville.