Obituary for Robert “Bob” Williams Robert L. “Bob” Williams Robert L. “Bob” Williams, 89, of Orange, Texas, went to join three of his golfing buddies in Heaven on October 16, 2018. Bob was born in Hahira, Georgia on February 16, 1929, but moved to Valdosta, Georgia with his mother and graduated from Valdosta High School in 1947. He attended Valdosta State College for a short while until he was drafted into the Army on October 16, 1950.
He was discharged in October of 1952. He had been promoted from Private to Sargent First Class, serving as Platoon Sargent at his time of discharge. Bob began his professional career when he joined National Container Corp.
as a purchasing clerk. He moved to maintenance as Planner Scheduler, then to Safety Director and Assistant Personnel Director in Valdosta. He was transferred to the Island of Abaco in the Bahamas as personnel director for Owens Illinois of the Bahamas until 1967.
Bob moved to the Orange area in 1967 when the paper mill for Owens Illinois was being built north of Orange. He came here as Personnel Director for the Mills Western Woodlands. In 1968, he was promoted to Human Res Manager of the mill, Woodlands and the wholly owned short line railroad, the Sabine River and Northern.
In 1976, Bob was transferred to Tomahawk, Wisconsin as manager of the company owned short line railroad, Marinette, Tomahawk, and Western. He returned to Orange in 1977 to fill the job as Vice President and General Manager of the Sabine River and Northern Railroad. He was promoted to President and retired as such in 1992.
During his first stay in Orange he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at his church, Park Avenue United Methodist, now Faith United Methodist, and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and United Way Board of Directors. In 1977, he was appointed Chairman of the Chambers Convention and Visitors Bureau Division and named Vice President of the Chamber in 1981 and the next year filled the President’s position. Bob was named Co-Chairman of the United Fund Drive with Larry David in 1984 and then Chairman in 1985.
The same year, he was elected first Vice President of the YMCA Board and to the Board of the Sabine District Transportation Board as well as the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. He was named President of the YMCA Board and the Salvation Army Board in 1986. Bob was named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1987.
He also dabbled in politics, serving on the City of Pinehurst Council and off and on for 13 years with four of those years as Mayor Pro Tem. In 2012 he was named Grand Marshall of the Jaycees Christmas Parade. In his spare time he loved golfing with his buddies.
Bob is preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Clyde and JC Wilder. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 65 years, Maxine Williams; daughters, Caron VanSlyke and husband Hank, of Orange and Cheryl Barrera, of Orange; grandson, Christopher Drucker; and great-grandchildren, Carsen Drucker and Addie Drucker. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Faith United Methodist Church in Orange with Reverend Keith Tilley officiating.
Interment will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the church. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert “Bob” Williams please visit our Sympathy Store.
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