William Williamson
William (Bill) Aubrey Williamson, caring husband, devoted brother, loving father of six, beloved grandfather of eleven and great-grandfaher of three was a well-respected consultant in the footwear industry. His expertise in the footwear industry was highly regarded not only domestically, but also, internationally as he traveled and consulted extensively in Italy, Spain, Brazil, Korea, ThePhillipines, andChina, His quintessential Southern gentlemanliness touched all those who knew him personally and professionally..
The words which follow reflect Bill’s love of nature, his kindness of connection, and his love for beauty and life…
“Legend says that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy, and celebration. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.”
Bill was a wonderful gentleman. He was a pleasure to work with and will be missed greatly.
Bill had an extraordinary life, filled with great joys and great sorrows. I will forever be in awe of his courage, his resilience, his wisdom, his great sense of humor, his faith, his kindness and the sense of beauty he found in everyone and everything. I am grateful to have met him and to have been his friend. I miss him. I will NEVER forget him.
Thank you,
Anne-Sophie
Uncle Bill will forever be in our hearts and minds. We will miss his gentle southern ways, his smile and laugh. He lived a fulfilled life that we are happy to have been a part of. We will always cherish the memories that we shared with him.
Bill Williamson was a dear person, a lover of kindness, justice and fairness. He also loved to have a good time, especially all dressed up to the nines. I’m so grateful for memories we have of some of the many good times: dinner at 10 PM at 93 Elm when he and Ruth got in from Logan; Legal Seafoods with Ma Peterson (Kitty); my trip to St.Louis when he and Ruth so graciously entertained me; driving North along the Sakonnet River in Portsmouth, R.I. when we spotted a huge full moon rising over the river and stopped the car to just gaze at it in breathless silence; a little late-night dancing with some of the Cooney and Peterson clans at Butch & Maeve’s on Rte. 146; and more.
Blessings on your journey, my friend. We will miss you.
Bill was such a gracious host. He always greeted me warmly when I visited Ruth and Bill. He seemed genuinely happy to see me after a long absence in Texas. It always felt elegant and light-hearted to be in Ruth and Bill’s lovely apartment. There was lots of shared laughted and many funny stories. I loved hearing about Ruth’s first trip to see Bill in Brazil. My husband and I spent a wonderful afternoon canoeing with Ruth and Bill. I loved Bill’s deep smooth voice and the way he brought calm into any upset. Bill was a friend I saw way too infrequently. Mike joins me in sending love to Ruth. We will miss Bill.
We knew Bill for only a short time, but we also knew that when you met him, you knew him. we were honored to have shared with him and Ruth stories of their life together and their adventures through that life. We always felt warm and accepted in Bill’s presence and were always delighted to see him.
Bill’s outlook on life will be missed, especially now, when there is so much negativity in this world. We really need more of Bill’s positive thinking and easy charm.
We will miss Bill and look forward to seeing him once more in a better place. We know that God always looks out for the Bills’ of this world, but we know that He is especially caring for our Bill.
I met Bill through our Sunday morning breakfast group. He was an interesting conversationalist, and we always looked forward to seeing him and Ruth. We will miss his smile, his voice, and his sense of humor.
I met Bill some nine years ago. It happened because Ruth answered a story in a local newspapaer that told how Fran Sisson and I were developing an exchange program with citizens in our sister city of Lyons,France and were looking for volunteer participants.
It soon blossomed into a mutual friendship and widened when they both started to attend the Sunday Morning breakfast group.
Soon it the idea of “just the boys” getting together began to develop and from all that as well as just doing things together a firm friendship took hold.
One that was especially meanibgful to Bill (and to me as well) was when just the two of us visited the French Colonial Catholic Church in Cahokia, Illinois just across the river from St. Louis. It was consecrated in 1799 and is built in the French Style where the logs are perpendicular (known as “poteaux-sur-solle). Just by sheer chance we arrived in time for mass. What a great experience we had. Bill enjoyed it to the maximum. The service was so warm, welcoming and meaninful. Then to top it off (as if something more wonderful could possibly occur) one of the members of the church took us on an historical tour of the building and provided a fascinating story of the relevant history.
That experience just seemed to cement our friendship.
I miss him.
Ed Kaskowitz
I also met Bill and Ruth at the Sunday breakfast group. Although I did not know Bill well, I enjoyed his calm, laid-back demeanor. I remember when he and Ruth bought their new car (a PT Cruiser) and Bill enjoyed showing it to some of the Sunday breakfast crew. He seemed so happy with the car.
It was such a delight to see him at breakfast some months ago when he was in better health. I admire his fighting spirit.
Bill possessed the qualities that all men should possess.The world would be a better place for it.Of all that I remember about him I think I appreciated the conversations I had with him.Talking with Bill left you with a good feeling.He would genuinely listen to what you had to say.His gentle southern style and demeanor made a lasting impression to all that had the pleasure to converse with him.Bill will be missed…
Hello,
I am glad you all got to know my Dad. He really was an impressive man. I am also glad he loved Ruth as we all love her very much. Thank you for your kind words on this web site. I am enjoying reading how others got to know my Dad and hearing, what I had the privilege of knowing all my life, of what a wonderful southern gentleman, he was.
He was also a husband and a father who was a Christian not because he was a good man and went to church. He had instruction from the Bible on how to lead our household. He required right behavior, yes Sr., yes Mama, be polite, stand up straight, and you were required to sit up straight and be quiet in church. Yet he steered us with much compassion. His love was gentle and true. He desired to obey Jesus so we would know how to live. He taught us with purpose, guiding us in godly ways, so we would take the right path and serve our Lord with praise.
Ruth’s email said, Bill is no longer struggling with the disease that had weakened him in body, mind and spirit. The end was very peaceful. He now has approached a realm where he will once again be whole, healthy and vibrant. She’s right.
He is now walking and talking with Jesus Christ. My husband and I asked him specifically if he knew he was going to heaven and he said he did and was trusting Jesus’ sacrifice and not trusting anything he had done on his own. I thank my Dad for a godly heritage.
Thank you again for you kind words.
Lynndel Flack
Bill’s youngest daughter
We will all miss Bill as he was a very friendly and caring person.Talking with Bill made you feel he genuinely cared about you. I know he had to be a special person, because he was able to get my sister Ruth to marry him and that was no small feat! I never thought there would be someone so special that could convince her to take the leap that she so often said was not going to happen. We can all take solace in the fact that knowing him made our lives better. We will miss you and though you may be gone, you will always be remembered by the many who loved and cared about you.
UNCLE BILL,
A WONDERFUL AND SOFT SPOKEN MAN,WHO WAS LOVED AND A LOVER OF LIFE . TO OUR HAPPY TIMES AND FOND MEMORIES;ESPECIALLY AT THE CAPE.
CI MANCHERETE TANTISSIMO.
LOVE, MARILYN AND NORMIE
Bill was such a nice person. He had a gentle humor and it was always a pleasure to see him at the store. I miss him telling me how good everything was that I cooked for him and his wife. I feel fortunate to have known him.
I am Spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this Year
I see the countless Christmas trees
Around the world below,
With tiny lights like heaven’s stars
Reflecting in the snow.
The sight is so spectacular
please wipe away that tear
for I am spending CHRISTMAS
WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
but the sound of music can not compare
with the CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.
I have no words to tell you
of the JOY their voices bring
for it is beyond description
to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.
I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending CHRISTMAS
WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I can not tell you of the SPLENDOR
or the PEACE here in this place
Can you just imagine CHRISTMAS
WITH OUR SAVIOR face to face
I will ask him to lift your spirit
as I tell him of your love
so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your hearts be joyful
and let your spirit sing
for I am spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN
and I am walking WITH THE KING.
Happy 80th Birthday Daddy. I miss you so much.
Happy 80th Birthday Daddy. I miss you so much.