Roger Leon Williams was born on May 22, 1926, in Marshall, Indiana, and passed away July 23, 2016, at home in Huntsville, Alabama. After a life filled with travel and exploration, learning and teaching, friendship and love, he has moved on to the next great adventure.

His parents were Ivan and Cleone Williams. He had two brothers, Elton and Emory, and one sister, Letha. He was married for forty years to Evelyn Cuffel Williams, bringing to the world six sons, Curt, Barry, Clint, Eric, Carl, and Paul. Ten years after Evelyn's passing, in 2004, he married Martha Headley Williams and became beloved stepfather to Michael, Daniel, and Mary. In addition to these, he leaves behind sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Roger served in the U.S. navy during World War II and was one of the Honor Flight veterans that traveled to Washington, D.C. He graduated from Earlham College in Indiana, and worked as an electronics engineer until retirement in Huntsville. During his years at Earlham, he constructed a radio in his dorm room and provided radio broadcasts for Earlham students for four years.

He was a licensed pilot, walked the Great Wall of China, rode an elephant in Thailand, and attended the ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia, among myriads of other expeditions.

Through United Church on Whitesburg, Roger served as Scoutmaster for many years, leading a group of young teenagers in the spirit of scouting and guided them on many camping trips and hiking trips (including the Appalachian Trail), helping them learn proper respect for the great outdoors and for each other. Another volunteer role for Roger was Huntsville Little League Baseball Coach.

He assisted with Mensa Kids Trek at the Annual Gatherings from 2003 through 2010 and with North Alabama Kids Trek from 2000 through 2015. He served as publisher and treasurer of North Alabama Mensa, taught genealogy classes at the Senior Center, enjoyed decades of golf with the Wednesday Morning Golf Team, and delighted everyone at Whitesburg United Church Young-at-Heart breakfasts and celebrations and during Woodmen of America and Mensa dinner meetings.

He is remembered especially for his quiet perspective on life, listening, contemplating, and then providing the exact words that brought the most laughter or the necessary changes in strategies to improve situations. His Quaker ancestry influenced his approach to life through a calm and wise demeanor.

Viewing and services will be at Spry Funeral Home in Huntsville on Thursday, July 28, beginning at 12 noon. Memorial service(s) will also be conducted in Indiana, time(s), date(s), and location(s) to be announced in the future.

 Service Information