Roger A. Williams
Roger A. Williams
Funeral services for Roger Alvin Williams, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2019 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Williams passed away at 10:31 p.m., Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Ozarks Medical Center.
He was born August 8, 1935, at Pottersville, Missouri, to David Noah Williams and Pearl Allie Briggs Williams. Roger graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1954. He was a veteran, having served with the United States Army. On November 11, 1961, he was married at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Louise Holloway. Before his retirement, Roger was a teamster; he worked as a route salesman for Foremost, Holsom Bread, Butternut Bread and had also worked in the meat department at Richards Bros. and worked at West Plains Bank. He enjoyed baseball, was an avid Cardinals fan and he loved playing the fiddle. Mr. Williams was a member of Moody Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Williams, of the family home; three children, Jeff Williams and wife, Lynda, Marion, Arkansas, Kevin Williams and wife, Tiffany and Darian Williams, all of West Plains; six grandchildren, Kevin Williams, Jr., and wife, Kayley, Chris Williams and wife, Rachel, Scott Williams, Justin Williams, Braden Williams and Alyssa Williams; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Williams, Benbrook, Texas and Clyde Williams, Winterville, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, three brothers, Dillard, Joe and Paul and one sister, Pauline, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Gospel Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Gospel Hill Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Dustin Mahan
December 16, 2019 @ 3:58 pm
I’m sorry for the loss of the fiddler in HOBA.
John Williams
December 17, 2019 @ 6:10 am
John, LaVelta and Stanley were sorry to hear the sad news. We will miss Roger. LaVelta remembers Roger came in with big smiles at the Williams family reunions. John loved to play Blue Grass with Roger. Stanley loved his Uncle Roger.
Richard Hoglen
December 17, 2019 @ 7:26 am
So very sorry to hear this sad news. Roger & I were band mates back in highschool in the fifties. Loved playing musIc with him. Good friend & awesome fiddle player. RIP my friend.
Wayne Stewart
December 17, 2019 @ 8:18 am
I met Roger in 1967. I was mowing the lawn for his folks, Dave and Pearl! Dave was quite a story-teller and Pearl was quite the cook! Roger has been a good friend ever since! He is one who will be missed by very many people!
Larry and Sherry Lindeman
December 19, 2019 @ 8:43 am
Very sorry to hear of cousin Roger’s passing. Generally when I saw him, he’d say “Howdy there cuz” Quite sure that many will miss his music and his smile. My earliest memory was at his Mom and Dad’s house. Please accept our condolences.
Amber Redburn
December 17, 2019 @ 3:19 pm
Louise and the Williams Family,
We want to extend our deepest sympathy to all of you on the passing of Roger. Tim and Corby really enjoyed his musical talent! I will miss his fun and friendly personality! You and your family will be in our daily prayers and thoughts. May God comfort, encourage, and support each one of you thru this difficult time. May God bless each one of you.
In Christian Love,
Tim, Amber, and Corby Redburn
Howard Marshall (Columbia, Missouri)
December 17, 2019 @ 10:53 pm
My sincere condolences to all the family and many friends of Roger Williams. I was an admirer of Roger’s bluegrass fiddle music, and it was a great pleasure getting to know him, swap a few fiddle tunes with him at West Plains Ozark Heritage festivals, and to learn about his interesting life, career, and his pithy commentaries and stories about fiddle music and musicians. Roger is profiled in a 2017 book, “Fiddler’s Dream” (University of Missouri Press), and his “Roger’s Waltz” is on the compilation CD that comes with the book (with Ed McKinney playing backup guitar). Rest in Peace, my friend.
Alice Ramirez
December 18, 2019 @ 8:46 pm
I am so saddened to hear about my Uncle Roger’s passing. I can remember him playing fiddle with many people all over the Ozarks, including my dad, Joe williams, who played mandolin, my Uncle John, Uncle Clyde, Uncle, Paul and me. I have many fond memories of my Uncle Roger and I loved him very much. He was such a good person. Aunt Louise I love you.
Sincerely,
Alice Ramirez
Ronnie Cowens
December 21, 2019 @ 11:29 am
I invited Roger to a music party West of Thomasville at my mother’s house in 2012. I was so honored to have him come and play. He was, without a doubt, one of the most talented that I have ever picked with. I certainly will miss him and being able to get with him again. My prayers for the family. RIP, Roger!
Erman Croney
December 21, 2019 @ 7:19 pm
Dear Louise & family, I’m sorry to learn of Roger ‘Jack’ passing. I enjoyed him and certainly enjoyed playing bluegrass with him. He was an encourager. God bless you as you adjust to his absence.