Bob WIlliams

J. Robert 'Bob' Williams, 96, of Springville, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, August 3, 2018, at Garnett Place, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Friday, August 10, 2018, at Whittier Friends Meeting House, Whittier, Iowa. Visitation: one hour prior to the Meeting. Private Family Burial: Whittier Friends Cemetery. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his wife of almost 70 years, Maxine; children, Dennis (Pat) Williams, Bruce (LeAnna) Williams, and Susan (Jim) Oujiri; grandchildren, Sean (Melissa) Williams, Jamie Williams, Lucas Williams (Tara Coyle), and BreAnna (Cameron) Kauffman; step-grandchildren, Jeff (Sharmon) Oujiri and Janessa (Travis) Hada; twelve great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends. J. Robert Williams was born August 5, 1921, in rural Springville to John and Edna (Willits) Williams. He attended Olney Friends Boarding School in Barnesville, Ohio, graduating in 1939. Bob was introduced to O. Maxine West by his sister, Peggy, who worked on a local newsletter with Maxine. They married on December 19, 1948, at the Olivet Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids. Bob developed the family farm near Springville, was a dairy farmer and also raised hogs. He enjoyed helping his children with scouting and 4H projects, traveling the United States and Canada in the camper, fishing, visiting relatives, touring sites of historical interest, and collecting old cameras. Bob was active in community affairs, including serving as the founding officer of Springville Cooperative Telephone Company, as a board member of Brown Township Insurance and Springville Cooperative Elevator, was elected Brown Township Trustee for 20 years, and was the caretaker of the Friends Meeting House and Cemetery in Whittier. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Margaret 'Peggy' Stevens, Arthur Williams, Virginia Lemmerman, and Howard Williams; in-laws, Myrtle and Marvin West; brother-in-law, Joe West; nephew, Greg Williams; nieces Shirley Scoville and Debbie Connelly; and aunt, Tacy Willits.