Roger Starrett Williams

He is father to Gregory Starrett Williams, Victoria (Williams) Champion, and Carrie (Williams) Gaspar (Janos); grandfather to Kristen (Williams) Franchot, Jennifer (Champion) Sperkoski (Michael), Lindsay Champion, Kimberly Champion, Michelle Champion, Caroline Champion, Alexandra Champion, Katharine Gaspar, James Gaspar and Alexander Gaspar; and great-grandfather to Wyatt Sperkoski. Mr. Williams was preceded in death in 1993 by his wife of 41 years, Carlotta (Jelm) Williams. He is the only child of Roger Earl Williams of Pa. and Louise (Milloy) Williams of W. Va.

Born in Oxnard, Calif. on January 17, 1926, and raised in Beverly Hills, Calif., Mr. Williams attended Beverly Hills High School and earned a business degree from the University of Southern California (’48), where he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. Upon graduation, he followed in his father’s footsteps by starting his own insurance brokerage firm, and it was then that he met his future wife Carlotta, who was still a student at USC. The well-respected Roger Starrett Williams Insurance Company was based in Beverly Hills for more than 50 years; he sold the business and retired in the mid-1990’s.

He and Carlotta married in 1951 and owned homes in Westchester and the Pacific Palisades before moving their family to Studio City in the 1960’s. They enjoyed domestic and international travel as well as their vacation homes at Green Valley Lake, Calif. and Napili, Maui, Hawaii. Mr. Williams relocated to Westlake Village in 2000.

A member of the Greatest Generation, he was a true gentleman and loyal friend who valued honesty and integrity. Mr. Williams was known for his friendly, easy-going personality and always had a kind word and joke at-the-ready. He remembered details about everyone, from dear friends to acquaintances, and was genuinely interested in the people he met. Mr. Williams loved his family, sports, golf, politics, woodworking, dogs, and affable conversation. A playful and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Mr. Williams will most be remembered for his deep passion for the University of Southern California, which he held since boyhood. A donor to the USC athletic booster club Cardinal and Gold and The Spirit of Troy Trojan Marching Band, he owned season football tickets for more than 60 years, as well as season tickets to USC basketball and baseball.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks in Westlake Village, California, with private burial to follow. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in his name to the University of Southern California Spirit of Troy Trojan Marching Band, which played a private concert for Mr. Williams a few days before he passed.

Arrangements under the direction of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Westlake Village, CA.