Robert Madison Williams

Bob was born on May 13, 1932, in Topeka, KS, the son of Cecil Madison Williams and Imogene DeSousa Williams. He had two older sisters, Jane and Nancy. Like everyone else in his generation, he grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. His father was an engineer and Head of Public Works in Topeka. Bob led a typical Midwestern life, was an active Boy Scout and graduated from Topeka High School in 1950.

He studied Engineering at Kansas State University and was initiated into Theta Xi Fraternity. He played tennis and sang in the choir. He also attended Washburn University.

However, Bob had a different kind of school in mind, as ever since he was a boy, all he wanted to do was fly. When Bob was young, a barnstorming show came flying through Kansas, and he got picked to go up for a ride. He loved it and decided then that he wanted to be a pilot.

Bob volunteered for the draft and joined the Army in 1952. Entering as an enlisted man, he finished top of his class in basic, as he learned the Army was training officers to be pilots. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1954. Bob learned to fly fixed wing aircraft and served at Ft. Sill, OK and Camp Rucker, AL before deploying to Korea in 1955-56 where he served as a military courier between Korea and Japan.

He also followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Free Mason.

After his tour of duty in Korea, he was transferred to the new Army Aviation Center in Ft. Rucker where he studied, trained and became a rotary wing (helicopter) aviator. He was a hotshot pilot and would fly anything -- Huey Cobras, Bell Rangers, Sikorskys, Chinooks. If it flew, he was flying it.

Bob’s next post was Ft. Meade, MD. While stationed there, he met Marjorie “Dixie” Huff. He proposed two weeks later. She said, “No. Let’s get to know each other first.” They were married six months later on Aug. 24, 1957, at Ft. Meade Chapel under the “Arch of Sabers.” Of course, their ride to the reception at the Officer’s Club was in Bob’s Helicopter on a flatbed.

Next move was to Europe after Bob had the highest exam score to date on the Nike weapons course. He was a nuclear weapons certified artillery officer who supervised the weapon’s operation in Munich, Germany during the most significant period of nuclear history since the end of WWII from 1959 to 1963.

Bob & Dixie had three children during their time from Ft. Meade, MD to Munich, Germany to Coral Gables, FL.

After Germany, Bob went on to serve two tours of duty in Vietnam. The first was in 1965-66 with the Outlaws and Mavericks operating out of Vinh Long. Upon return, another transfer to Ft. Rucker AL, then Ft. Sill OK for artillery school, and then back to Coral Gables, FL. His second tour back to Vietnam in 1968-69 as he commanded the 57th Assault Helicopter Company. Bob was so proud that he never lost a man while he was in command.

He specialized in the Flying Crane after returning to Ft. Rucker AL for his 6th and final posting -- becoming one of the top experts in the world. Bob also founded the Chief Warrant Officer Career Flight School in Ft. Rucker. He was a founding member of the Army Aviation Association of America (The Quad A.) Lastly, Bob found his way back to school again, enrolling, attending and graduating from Troy State University with honors.

Military Medals of Commendation:

Bronze Star (10 Oak Leaf Cluster), Master Army Aviator, Air Metal (15 Oak Leaf Cluster), Valorous Unit Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal (10 Oak Leaf Cluster), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal-Vietnam, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal

After retiring from the military in 1973, Bob joined the civilian workforce with Neptune Measurement Co., and the family relocated to Greenwood, SC. This brought the family closer to Dixie’s mother, Florence Taylor Huff -- “Oma” to the grandchildren. Bob was promoted to Regional Sales Manager as the family moved to St. Louis, MO in 1976. Bob and Dixie’s final move was to Dunwoody, GA in 1981 when Bob became International Sales and Operations Manager; eventually purchased by Schlumberger Industries. Bob and Dixie would live there for 43 years.

After raising children and seeing them through college, Bob and Dixie settled into their new life as empty nesters playing bridge as active members in the Dunwoody Newcomers Club and Welcome Wagon. Bob played tennis and started walking regularly.

During his civilian retirement, Bob and Dixie traveled extensively with their children’s families including three grandsons. They frequently visited one daughter and grandson overseas in Europe and then Asia. Bob and Dixie also becoming big “cruisers” traveling around the world.

In Dunwoody, Bob enjoyed his friends at the weekly “ROMEOs” Club -- Retired Old Men Eating Out. While he claimed he was not much of a “pet person,” he loved the family’s multiple dogs and reluctantly, his daughters’ cats. He read constantly and got quite a kick out of his limerick books. Bob stayed currently on all things aviation and thoroughly enjoyed traveling to his Army reunions across the country of two of his units in Vietnam -- Vinh Long Outlaws and 57th Assault Helicopter Company’s Gladiators & Cougars.

Bob fought the good fight with short-term memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Bob and Dixie had just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this year when Dixie passed away on September 8 after a long, courageous fight against lung cancer.

Remaining to carry-on Bob’s memory are his son, Robert (Bobby) M. Williams, Jr. and daughter-in-law Connie of Brentwood, TN; grandsons Collin Williams (Ashlie) of Saudi Arabia and Grant Williams and partner, Deanna Clement of Decatur GA; daughter, Sally Buglass of Dunwoody; grandson, Scott Buglass, Seattle WA; and daughter, Sousa Williams and partner, Lori Kendrick of Berlin, CT and step grandchildren, Nova, Caroline and Theo Kendrick.

Preceding Bob in death are his wife, Marjorie “Dixie” Williams; parents, Cecil Madison Williams and Imogene DeSousa Williams; and sisters Jane Williams McAfee and Nancy Williams Pollom.

They are reunited after two quick months apart. Bob and Dixie will be laid to rest together at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. with full military honors -- joining Dixie’s parents, who are also buried there.

In lieu of Flowers, memorial donations in Bob’s memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

https://www.alz.org/?form=FUNXNDBNWRP