Richard Morgan Williams, Jr.'s Obituary
Richard Morgan Williams, Jr. passed away peacefully and mercifully at his home on October 14, 2012 at the age of 85. He was born on August 22, 1927 in Bardwell, KY to Richard M. Williams, Sr. and Allie Lucile Housman Williams. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his two brothers, Harry M. Williams and Robert Lee Williams. After graduating from Owensboro HS in Owensboro, KY, he served post WWII in Japan for the Army Medical Corp. and one of his biggest thrills was climbing MT. Fuji while there. Then, as a statistics major, he graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1953. He married his wife of 60 years, Betty Hamilton Williams, on December 20, 1952. Along with his wife, whom he adored, he leaves his children, Richard H. Williams(Nancy), Cynthia B. Williams, David M. Williams, and Jennifer W. Rogan(Mark), six grandchildren, Ross Hamilton Williams, Caroline Williams Zurhellen(Cody) of Knoxville, TN, Jeffrey Morgan Williams, John Galyon Williams, Aaron Thomas Rogan, and Sean Allen Rogan; and great-grandson Porter James Zurhellen. He and Betty moved to Memphis shortly after their marriage, where he worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and the National Cotton Council where he compiled and published a statistical publication on the uses of cotton called “Cotton Council’s Customers”. In 1969 he joined his two brothers at National Butane Gas Co., where he eventually became General Manager until his retirement in 1993. Mostly, though, he was defined by his three loves, Jesus Christ, his wife and family, and the Big Orange. On football Saturdays you could always find him pacing a hole in the carpet, while either listening to UT football games on the radio, or watching on TV. That love of UT football began as an equipment manager his freshman year while General Neyland was still coach and winning championships. He was a faithful member of Eudora Baptist Church for 52 years, where he served as deacon for many years. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling to places like Alaska and England, but if the weather was nice, he also enjoyed playing golf with his friends. Visitation will be at Eudora Baptist Church on October 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM and the funeral service to immediately follow at 11:00. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Any memorials may be sent to Eudora Baptist Church or the Memphis Union Mission. Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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