Robert Charles "Bob" Williams Sr.

ROBERT CHARLES "BOB" WILLIAMS SR., 84, of Little Rock, Ark., surrounded by his wife and four children, died Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at Parkway Health Center after a prolonged illness related to military service in Vietnam. He was born March 16, 1933, in Hartford, Conn., the younger of two sons of Frank Joseph and Clara Macht Williams, who predeceased him. Bob spent his early years in Middlebury, Conn. He attended Danbury Teachers College in Danbury, Conn. In 1953, during the Korean Conflict, he enlisted in the USAF, serving twenty years at Sampson AFB, N.Y., Lackland AFB, Texas, Hunter AFB, Ga., Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Glasgow AFB, Mont. As a combat crew member on KC-97 and KC-135 tankers, he was an inflight air refueling specialist in the Strategic Air Command, the nation's first line of defense during the Cold War, performing the intricate maneuvers necessary to refuel fighter jets, nuclear bombers, and reconnaissance planes while airborne. He was among the first boom operators to be trained in Refueling the SR-71 Reconnaissance planes. He participated in our country's defense during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Besides his permanent duty stations, his military career sent him to many temporary assignments. Due to developing disability, Bob left flying status in 1970 and was transferred to Danang, Vietnam, in the Pacific Air Forces as First Sergeant of a Military Airlift Command Squadron for one year. He completed the Strategic Air Command Non-commissioned Officers Academy in 1971, returning to Little Rock AFB as First Sergeant of the Missile Maintenance Squadron, which serviced the Titan II Missiles in Ark. He retired in 1974 with the rank of M/Sgt. During his military career he was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal with Special Operations Group, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Vietnam Service Medal, and Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters in addition to numerous other medals and ribbons. Following his military retirement, Bob became a representative for the Veterans Administration Regional Office. As a Field Investigator for the northwest area of Arkansas, he serviced the needs of his fellow veterans for 22 years. He retired from the Administration in 1997, having received many awards. His combined Air Force and Veterans Association careers spanned a total of 42 years of dedicated service to his country. A multi-talented man, retirement afforded Bob the opportunity to pursue his artistic skills. He attended courses in conservation at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, volunteering his newly acquired abilities in assisting Bob Devan, State Conservator of the Arkansas History Commission, a man who became his closest friend for the remainder of his life. During this time, Bob enjoyed developing his innate gift for painting on canvas, a talent discovered in his childhood. His intricate, detailed landscapes have been displayed on television, in magazines, state pamphlets, galleries and art shows. As a free-lance artist, he sold many original paintings and limited edition prints. He was also a member of the Lions Cub, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. Bob married Fay Livingston of Savannah, Ga., in a formal wedding on June 18, 1954, at Hunter Air Force Base Chapel. Their oldest child, Robert, Jr, was born in Ga., and their remaining children, Ray, Sonja, and Carolyn, were born in Arkansas. Despite frequent, extended absences from his children during their youth, due to his military service, Bob's loving, firm guidance has been a constant influence throughout their lives. In addition to attending church and school events, their childhood was spent enjoying scouting, camping, fishing, gardening and sports events with their father and mother. In addition to his wife of 62 years, Bob is survived by a brother, Frank Williams (Nobbie) of Noank, Conn.; sons, Robert Williams, Jr (Debbie) of Melbourne, Fla., and Ray Williams (Joyce) of North Little Rock; daughters, Sonja O'Leary (Michael) of Maumelle, and Carolyn Warner (Mark) of North Little Rock; grandchildren, Marcia Ballentine (Rob), Jennifer Williams, Bernie Williams (Jaime) all of Orlando, Fla., Garry Hatzell of North Little Rock, Ark., Heather Owen of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Franklin Brent of Oppelo, Ark., and Sean Carney (Laura) of Prairie Grove, Ark.; great-grandchildren, Caden and Jaxon Williams, Riley and Henry Williams all of Orlando, Fla.; Brendan, Christopher, and Matthew Reddick of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; Allistar and Amelia Carney of Prairie Grove, Ark. The family is convinced that Henry Luke Williams, born in Tampa, Fla., within a few hours after Bob's death, was welcomed into this world by his great-grandfather during their transition. Special extended family members include Bob Devan of Little Rock, Barbara Cooper of Maumelle, Perry DeJarnette of Little Rock, Kathy James of Little Rock, and Sheila Johnson of El Dorado, Ark. Bob is also survived by a host of loving friends in a life-saving, world-wide Fellowship. The family expresses gratitude to Dr. Claudia Tolleson and her staff of Parkway Village Clinic, Parkway Health Center's Administrator Steven Gates, and all nurses, aids, and staff members who gave such excellent and loving care to Bob during his extended stay. Thanks, also, to the Baptist Hospice team that eased his transition. Services will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Roller Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, (501) 224-8300 with visitation at 10 a.m., and a memorial service led by Rev. Jim Agee, Chaplain of Baptist Hospice Care, at 11 a.m. Full military honors with internment will be at 1 p.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, followed by a reception for family and friends at 142 Beaver Creek Lane, Maumelle, Ark., at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, (woundedwarriorproject.org), P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kan. 66675, or Ozark Water Projects, Inc, (Facebook), 10701 Rivercrest Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72212. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.