Richard Carl Williams Jr.

Richard Williams, Jr. (R.C. or Arcie) moved on to the next phase of his spiritual life on October 3, 2019 at the age of 68 following a year-long battle with cancer. He was the 4th born in what would eventually become a family of 6 children (Keri, Robert, Teri, Richard, Ronald, and Jeri). Being a middle child helped him train his fight or flight reactions. On any given day, you could find him and his closest siblings exploring the hills, playing in the orchard, being mischievous from the rafters of the cutting shed, or catching the view from the roof of the house. He always had a club (boys only of course) allowing his sister, Jeri, in only if she had something good to share. When he needed time away, you could find Richard reading upstairs in his room. It was there he developed his strong passion for reading. This led to a collection of thousands of books and an ability to finish a novel in a day, or if he is distracted, a day-and-a-half.

Richard spent his youth “surfing” the apricot orchards around his home. Well, that was his response when someone implied he must surf since he lived in California. He was a great storyteller leaving the listener wondering if he was “pushing” their leg.

R.C. joined the United States Air Force in 1969 which allowed him to travel throughout the United States and overseas. His favorite station was in Grafenwöhr, Germany. It was here he met the love of his life, Ann Williams. They were married in January of 1974 and recently celebrated their 45th anniversary. In those 45 years, work and family brought them all over the United States where they eventually settled in Texas.

Could you call R.C. a jack-of-all-trades? Maybe—if you leave out plumbing. He held many jobs from weather technician, to maintaining the hulls of yachts, from building electrical panels, to wood craftsman. R.C. and his eagerness to learn and get the job done right made him a reliable employee and a mentor to many.

All the above sounds like a well-fulfilled life. But wait there is so much more to him!

Deviled eggs, greasy pizza and burgers (plain and dry please), strawberry milkshakes with extra strawberries, hot dogs, dried apricots, dark chocolate, Cajun food, and Greenspring’s Green Pepper Pie were some of his favorite indulgences. Don’t let this list fool you, R.C. had a true appreciation for unique ingredients, skilled chefs, and great restaurants from all over. Some might call him a foodie, though his aversion to onions, coconut, broccoli and avocados limited a few culinary experiences. If there was any potential for these ingredients in his meal, he would declare to all waitresses, “I’m allergic”—of course, we knew the truth. Above all, his absolute favorite meals came from his own home and prepared by his preferred chef, Annie Greensprings (his wife).

R.C.’s witty sense of humor, dynamic intelligence, passion for knowledge, and firm values, were passed on to his children and grandchildren. He leaves behind his lifelong love, Ann Williams “Greensprings”, his son, Jory Bain Williams “Bingo” and his wife Kimberly “Bingo Lady”, Jory’s daughter Isabel “Itza Bell”, and son Jack “Jax” as well as his daughter Jodi Deen Williams-Thomas “YoYo” and her husband Brian Thomas “YoYo Man”, Jodi’s sons Jayden “Buddy”, Ian “Podjo”, and the youngest grandchild Billy “Boots”.

R.C. was excited to meet up with his friends and family that moved on before him. In heaven, we imagine he is sharing a laugh and lots of hugs with his mother, Juanice Williams; fishing in a heavenly ocean with his brother-in-law, Roger Miller; playing an endless billiards game with one of his best buds, Richard Marmolejo; taking a ride through the backroads of Heaven with his friend, Steve Weeden; and having a good in-depth conversation over dominoes with one of his best friends, Larry Carter.

Please join us in celebration of R.C. Williams (Richard to his California family) at an evening event on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Kitty Hawk Event Center (310 Kitty Hawk, Universal City, Texas 78148) from 6pm-9pm.

Please bring your favorite potluck dish and of course, your most loved memories of R.C.