Robert H. Williams

Robert H. Williams passed away February 1 at his home on Rock Creek. He was born 6/20/36 in Albany, Oregon, the first of Robert D. and Jesse Lorene Williams' 5 children. He spent his early years in Jefferson, before the family moved to Nelscott, Oregon. He graduated from Taft High School, playing football and baseball. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a major in accounting and became a CPA. On August 17, 1957 he married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Workman. They have 2 children, Kathleen and Daniel.
Bob worked for many companies in the region, but his work for Forrest Industries (later Permaneer Corp.) required frequent transfers around the country. He and Arlene used these moves as opportunities to fully explore wherever they landed. When they lived in North Carolina, this meant traveling from Cape Canaveral to Washington, D.C. When they lived in St. Louis, Mo., this meant seeing the Ozarks and Busch Stadium. When they lived in Boulder, Colorado, this meant exploring Estes Park and the Rockies.
Upon his transfer back to Roseburg in 1993, Bob resumed his lifelong love of flyfishing and the North Umpqua River. He had a decades long connection with Steamboat Inn and considered Jim and Sharon Van Loan among his closest friends. He served for many years as treasurer of both the Steamboaters and the North Umpqua Foundation.
For Bob, his CPA license was a passport to the world. After the kids were grown and he and Arlene divorced, his wanderlust grew. Armed only with twinkling blue eyes, a gentle manner, and a huge capacity for wonder, he found work all over the world. He traveled to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, West Germany, Finland, the Soviet Union, and others. He and Arlene visited Scandanavia and Russia. But his favorite place outside of Oregon was Peru. He worked for a company in Puccalpa for several years and fell in love with the life and the people there.
Back home, his favorite pastimes included camping and fishing with his extended family. He loved trips to Siltcoos Lake with brother Jim, Fourth of July in Gearhart with Dan's family, and watching his nephew Mark play baseball. Although he never fully retired, he was able to spend more time in the last few years with Kathy, David and their children, and was deeply loved by them.
Bob is survived by former wife Arlene (to whom he was devoted) and their children Kathleen Presnell (David) of Roseburg and Daniel Williams (Elisa) of Lake Oswego. He was loved and will be missed by grandchildren Jeremy Presnell (Susan), Onica Kibby (Ryan), Keena Presnell, Eleanor Williams and Emily Williams. He is survived by siblings Dick Williams (Barbara), Jim Williams (Bonnie), and Charlene Fauria (Tom), all of Eugene. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his sister Barbara Heinke. The family wants to express their deepest thanks to Deputy Allen of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department for his kindness and compassion. A memorial will be planned at a later date. Please post messages to the family at chapeloftherosesfh.com.