Robert S. Williams

He was seriously ill with complications of pneumonia and chronic lung disease and had been hospitalized for the past 30 days.

Robert is survived by Rosemary, his beloved wife of 49 years. He is also survived by a daughter, Margaret Williams of Carthage, MO, and a son Raymond (Rachel) Williams of Houston, TX, as well as three siblings; sisters Beverly Eddings, El Campo, TX, and Patricia (Joe) Chaney, Victoria, TX, and a brother John David (Nancy) Williams of Victoria, TX; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Robert was born November 13, 1939, in New Orleans and spent most of his childhood and teen years in various places in Texas. He graduated from Texas A & I University in 1962 and received his MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida.

He moved to Sarasota in 1964 and worked at EMR Telemetry for 30 years before retiring in 1994. In his retirement years he enjoyed traveling for pleasure and traipsing around the U.S. with Rosemary, chasing mushrooms for study, photography, and consumption. He was a Life Member of North American Mycological Association (NAMA), an organization of professional and amateur mycologists which promotes the study of fungi. Robert was also a member of Gulf States Mycological Society (GSMS), a regional mushroom group dedicated to the appreciation and study of fungal flora in the Gulf Coast Region. Robert was a skilled photographer and won a considerable number of awards in NAMA’s annual photography contest.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Robert’s name to North American Mycological Association, c/o Patricia Lewis, 262 County Road 3062, Newton, TX 75966-7003.

Services will be held at Palms-Robarts Funeral Home 170 Honore Ave Sarasota, FL 34232 on Wednesday April 2, 2014 at 2pm.