Gene Gilbert Williams

Gene Gilbert Williams, 97, of Hobart, OK, passed away November 4, 2025. Born in Jackson, TN in 1929, he was the son of the Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Roy D. Williams, Sr. He was graduated from Tilghman High School in Paducah, KY, in 1947.

He lived the life of the itinerant Methodist Preacher's child, moving from place to place: Saltillo, TN; Mercer, TN; Arlington, KY; Benton, KY; Paducah, KY; Mayfield, KY; and Memphis, TN.

He was drafted in 1950 while attending Lambuth College in Jackson, TN, to serve in Korea, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. It was here that during a massive Chinese infantry attack, he was wounded in his foxhole by a grenade and was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart.

After the Korean War, he resumed his education and was graduated from Lambuth in 1952. It was then he met the love of his life, Nancy Jo Mitchell of Bolivar, TN, and the two were married in 1953. Gene and Nancy welcomed their first child Gena Glenn in 1960, and their son Marvin Mitchell in 1963.

Gene always had a wonderful voice, building it into a successful career in radio. Gene and Nancy moved to Union City, TN and then Dyersburg, TN where he managed local radio stations WENK and WTRO respectively. They eventually arrived in Memphis, TN, where Gene had various sales positions and sold real estate. Memphis would be their home until 1978, when they settled in Hobart and fell in love with Southwestern Oklahoma. There, Gene continued his work in radio at KTJS. He was an active part of the community, adding his energy and experience to local choir and the Shortgrass Playhouse, Inc. He served as the President of the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association as well as serving in numerous civic positions, including Vice-Mayor of Hobart.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of fifty-eight years Nancy Mitchell Williams, his son Marvin Mitchell Williams, and his brother Roy D. Williams.

He is survived by his daughter, Gena Williams of Hobart; his grandchildren Ashley Moore of Horn Lake, MS; Mallory Moore, and Glenn Moore of Memphis; great-grandchildren Ayden Moore, Bella and Kylie Canady, all of Horn Lake; Preston Coy Moore of Memphis; his brother Bob Williams of Memphis, TN; sister Patty Williams Woodmansee of Plano, TX; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to First United Methodist Church, Hobart.

Funeral: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2025

First United Methodist Church, Hobart, OK

Visitation: 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, OK

Family Visitation: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, OK

Interment: Hobart Rose Cemetery, Hobart, OK

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, OK