Calling Hours:
Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 4:30-7:30pm
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Funeral Service:
Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 11:00am
Westminster Chapel of First Presbyterian Church
323 Main St., Greenville, PA
Rev. David A. Dobi, officiating
Calling hours will also be held from 10:00-10:45am
at the church Wednesday morning.
Greenville VFW Post #3374 will render military honorsÂ
at the conclusion of the service. F&AM Eureka Lodge #290
will ave a Masonic Service in the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:30pm.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery, Butler, PA
James Robert “Bob” Williams, of 339 E. Jamestown Road, West Salem Township, and formerly of 203 W. Windridge Road, Hempfield Township and 28 E. Stewart Avenue, Greenville, Pennsylvania, died on Thursday, January 10, 2019 following a short illness. He was 102.
The son of the late Oras N. Williams and Eva G. (Kennedy) Williams, he was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1916. Mr. Williams graduated from Penn High School (Greenville) in 1933 and Thiel College in 1946 following service in the US Army during World War II in various locations throughout the South Pacific including Hawaii, Espirito Santo, and Guadalcanal.  On June 3, 1950, he married Eleanor G. (Rodgers) Williams, who passed away in 2009. They had two sons, the late James R. Williams, Jr., and John R. Williams of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania.
During the 1950s Mr. Williams worked at the family’s Greenville jewelry store, Williams and Son, and then the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. Following his retirement in 1979, he “never put his feet up” as he often said,  working as an aerial photographer for the Department of Agriculture for the next 17 years and volunteering for numerous organizations well into his 90s.
An active member of First Presbyterian Church throughout his life, he served as a deacon and elder, sang in the church choir, and was the designated photographer for many church events.  He was also actively involved in the local Kiwanis Club, receiving the Kiwanis Club’s Hixson Award in 2006. He was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society, providing transportation for Greenville area cancer patients to receive treatment at facilities in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo. He also served as an escort at the UPMC Horizon Greenville Hospital and St. Paul Homes.Â
Mr. Williams was a member of F&AM Eureka Lodge #290, New Castle Consistory, the Pymatuning Outboard Motor Club where he served as secretary for 23 years, New Castle Power Squadron, New Castle Camera Club, New Wilmington Camera Club, Pymatuning Nature Photographers and was a Charter Member of Pymatuning Power Squadron.
In addition to his son and daughter-in-law Pam, Mr. Williams is survived by foster son Tom Spargo and wife Brenda of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchildren Tara, Marc and wife Megan Williams; and foster grandchildren, Amber and Zachary; as well as loving nieces and nephews. Â
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 323 Main St., Greenville, and the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
So sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather,. I used to house clean for them for many years. Always treated me like family.
Very sorry to hear this. Bob was a true gentleman and good man. He and Eleanor were true and faithful friends of my late parents, Howard and Carole Foust. Bob also taught me a great deal about photography. We still have one of his original prints of the one room school house across from St. Paul’s displayed proudly in our dining room. Our deepest sympathies to his family.
Dear Chip, Pam and family, We are so sad to hear about your dad passing. Ray has many good memories and we are sure that your memories will comfort you at this time. We send our prayers and thoughts to you at this time.
I have very fond memories of Bob (Mr. Williams to me decades ago) and his USDA Photography days. That effort started when I worked for David Woods at ASCS in the 1980s. It was a heady experience for this at-the-time recent PSU graduate. Don Sheets piloted a brown and white Cessna, which had a hole cut into its floor and there was Bob belly down and clicking away as he looked through the camera and lens that filled the hole in the floor. I was the spotter – trying to keep us along straight lines and watching for planes. It was a fun experience with 2 very fine gentlemen, and we covered quite a few counties in this part of the state. Good memories of the effort and those two co-workers and I hope the fond memories will stay with me for my lifetime. I hope they stayed with Bob. My condolences to the family — 102 is pretty amazing. A good life well lived and experience and wisdom shared.
John. Our condolences to you, Pam, and your entire family on the passing of your father. You once shared with me many of your Dad’s remarkable late-in-life activities and accomplishments which can serve as a positive inspiration for all of us as we enter our retirement years. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
To Chip, Tom, and family: This man lived a full and exemplary life! I remember Mrs. Williams as a very kind and able teacher at Penn Jr. High, who guided many of us through those formative years. May you all be blessed with wonderful memories as you gather to honor his life and legacy.
Dear Family of Bob Williams,
We read about Bob’s passing in the local newspaper, Butler Eagle. Bob’s obituary was both very interesting and beautiful. What a wonderful
tribute to him.
It has been years since we last saw Bob, probably the last time was at Eleanor’s funeral. He was blessed with a long life. How wonderful,
102 years!!! If our memory is right, we believe Aunt Eva lived to that same age.
After reading the obituary, I began to remember the times the members of the Sherman Family from Butler traveled to Greenville for summer
picnics. The food was always so delicious, and we were delighted if Bob took us for a boat ride on the lake. Also remember sitting on the front
porch on Main Street watching and enjoying the peaceful setting.
May you be comforted with this words of memories, and be blessed with God’s Love.
From,
Mary Callista Killmeyer Cherry, second daughter of Mary Sherman Killmeyer, and grand daughter of Joseph and Ora Sherman.
John, Condolences to you and your family. My memories of your father is he always had a camera around his neck. Photography was his passion for sure. We attended Eva’s birthday party many years ago… I am sure you will have many days of looking through his eyes through the pictures he took.
Thoughtfully,
Kathy (Kathleen) Killmeyer Gordon