Roberton Capell Williams

Roberton Capell (Bob) Williams

died at age 95 on April 20, 2015 at Marquette in Indianapolis after a full and happy life. A natural storyteller brimming with curiosity, he was born in his beloved San Francisco to Allen V. and Lucille Chauncy Williams on December 17, 1919. He was predeceased by his adored older brother, Allen V. Williams, Jr., and his beautiful younger sister, Alicemary Cosby.

Bob delivered the valedictory address at his graduation from Lowell High School in 1937 and received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1941, where he played goalie on the Pacific Coast Conference championship soccer team, acted in the theater (including as a drunken sailor carried off the stage by Gregory Peck), and was Senior Class and Permanent Class President.

He was commissioned as a Navy Supply Corps officer and trained at Harvard Business School where he met his future wife, Betty Bishop. He was posted to Hawaii in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was reassigned to the Oakland Supply Depot in April 1944 and married Betty on September 16 of that year.

Upon his discharge in 1946, Bob joined Stokely Van Camp's Sales & Marketing Division in Oakland, CA, eventually moving to the firm's Indianapolis headquarters in 1963.

After retiring in 1984, Bob engaged in many volunteer activities, including helping fledgling businesses through the Executive Service Corps and SCORE. In 2003, he and Betty moved to Marquette, where he continued to be an active leader, volunteering and serving as President of the Residents' Council.

Known to spin a yarn with the best of them, he was appreciated for his congeniality and unending rotation of entertaining tales of his life and family history. His daughter remembers him as being handsome and glamorous, a golden boy in his youth. His sons appreciate his kind attention in activities ranging from camping to sports.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, his daughter Helen (Danielle) Hill of Santa Monica, CA; three sons: Roberton C. Williams, Jr. (Jane Hilder) of Alexandria, VA; Richard B. Williams (Jeanne Segal) of Somerville, MA; and David L. Williams (Kathleen Kunz) of Zionsville; seven grandchildren: Brin Hill; Rob, Kyra, Bennett, Aimee, and Ross Williams; and Sara Segal-Williams; and six great grandchildren.

True to his generous spirit, Bob donated his remains to the Indiana University Medical School. There will be a celebration of his life at Marquette in June. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Marquette Foundation.