Bob Williamson

Raleigh - Benjamin Robert "Bob" Williamson, a lifelong resident of Raleigh, NC, died peacefully at Brighton Gardens on May 14, 2012. Born on September 3, 1932, Bob is survived by his wife Eve Ragland Williamson; daughter Blanche Spencer Williamson of Southampton, NY; son Julian Robertson Williamson of Raleigh and his wife Elizabeth Duerson Williamson and their three daughters, Susan Serpell, Blanche Robertson, and Elizabeth Redfern. His oldest son, Benjamin Robert Williamson Jr., preceded him in death and is survived by his wife Caroline Crook Williamson and their children Caroline Costner, Benjamin Robert III and Wyndham Josephine, all of New York City. He also leaves behind three stepchildren, William Benjamin Blades, Robert Collins Blades, and Helen Blades Dixon. His step granddaughter, Evie Dixon, always held a special place in his heart. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Bob was the youngest of five sons born to Betty Robertson Williamson and Carl Levering Williamson. His brothers Carl, Bailey, Johnny and Mial all predeceased him. A product of the Raleigh City Schools, Bob graduated from Broughton High in 1951. At Broughton he was elected senior class president and excelled at sports, lettering in football, basketball and track. He always maintained his love for Broughton and helped establish a scholarship in honor of his brother Mial. After Broughton he enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and graduated in three years. Soon after graduation in 1954, he started working for North Carolina Equipment Company in Raleigh. During forty-four years there, he received a number of awards for salesmanship, including one from a heavy equipment supplier that recognized him as the “Number One Salesman in North America”. He also served as President for the Terpsichorean Club in 1965, and was president of the Wake County Chapter of the Educational Foundation for UNC-Chapel Hill.

More than anything, he loved taking family and friends to Carolina football and basketball games. He traveled to 14 Final Fours and countless bowl contests. During football season, it was never unusual for “Dad”, as he was affectionately known by friends and family, to take an entourage for a football doubleheader, first to Kenan Stadium and then to Carter Finley Stadium. On one memorable fall Saturday, he was able to take in a tripleheader at Duke, Carolina and NC State. In addition to following his beloved Heels, he was an avid golfer and crafty gin player at the Carolina Country Club. It was in the 19th Hole where he held court using his remarkable wit to entertain. A yellow dog Democrat, Bob embraced political banter with his Republican rivals. Throughout his life he loved the family farmland located in the eastern Wake County community of Shotwell. This was an especially comforting place to go, as he did almost daily, during the last years of his life.

Bob and his family have been blessed with the loyal support of Elizabeth Wilkins, who became a true friend during the last several months. The family also extends appreciation to the staff at Brighton Gardens, who assisted Bob during the last three and a half years.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh at 4:00pm on Wednesday May 16th. After the service, everyone is invited to a reception at the Carolina Country Club to recount old memories.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Mial Williamson Scholarship, funded by the Needham B. Broughton Alumni Association, P.O. Box 31464, Raleigh, NC 27622, to Christ Episcopal Church, 120 Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, or the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St.