Robert Russell Williams went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and wife of 63 years; the only love of his life, on Feb. 2, 2016 at 10:16 a.m. at his home in Aldrich, Mo., with family at his side and his beloved dog Little Bit.
Born in Rockford, Illinois on March 30, 1926, to Russell Martin Williams and Lillian Faith Johnson, who proceded him in death when he was 2, he was reared by his loving mother Linnea Carlson. At age 13, after a scate burn, he was diagnosed with Osteomyelitis in his left hip. All know treatment failed and he overheard his mother crying and talking on the phone, that he had been sent home from the hospital to die. Stunned, he turned on his radio and listened to a pastor speaking on John 1:12. When that pastor asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus as Savior, he asked Jesus Christ to come into his life and save him. Next morning his fever was gone. He endured more surgeries because of that. He met Jean Marion Porter in their youth group at the "Tab", Tabernacle Church in Milwaukee, Wis. where the family moved. They were in love and their parents refused to let them marry because of siblings having weddings, so they eloped to Ironwood, Mi. They were married Nov. 5, 1946. He was graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, attended Wisconsin State Teachers College where he majored in music. He transferred to Northwestern Bible College, where he continued in music, playing his trumpet with well know musicians: Howard Jones and Richard DeHann. After marrying and starting a family, he moved to Southern California where he was offered a job with Disney Land to be a draftsman for the site. He turned it down to work for Jesus Christ. He attended and graduated from Fundamental Bible Institute with a degree in Divinity. While studying there he was the draftsman for the top secret "Wind Tunnel" and the bridge from Miami, Fl to Key West.
While preaching in California he felt called to the mission field, so moved to Springfield, Mo. to go to Baptist Bible College. He graduated with a degree in Missions in 1966, was approved by Baptist Bible Fellowship International and went to Africa. He served his Lord for most of his life, having pastored 14 churches and was missionary in Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and England. He spoke Lingala and Swahili fluently. Independent Faith Mission became their sending mission. He and Jean wrote their autobiography "Great and Mighty Things" booklets and translated doctrine into Swahili. He loved his Bible and praying for missions and family. He loved his family and loved to joke around. He will be greatly missed but we know we will see him again.
He was proceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jean Marion Porter by 6 years and 1 day, 1 grandchild and 4 great-grandchildren. He is survived by 1 son, David Paul Williams and wife Jeannie of Largo, Fl; 2 daughters, Kathleen (Kathy) Elmore and husband Charles of Aldrich, Mo; Susan (Susie) Horne and husband Jim, Missionaries to Kenya; 7 grandchildren: Robert (Bob) Williams and Anna of Indianapolis, In, Traci Dunn of Springfield, Mo, Richard (Ricky) Mills and Virginia of Willard, Mo, Jason Horne and Pamela of Bogart, Georgia, Cheryl and Dillon and Chris of Ashville, N.C., Rachel Peterson and Brett from South Africa and David Elmore of Springfield; 20 great-grandchildren: Samantha, Brandon, Brittaney, Cooper, Derrick, Dylan, Jacob, Garrett, Rickie, Brooke, Ryan, Sean, Skylar, Haley, Kayla, Logan, Karis, Alex, Lance, and Judah; and 1 great-great-grandchild, Oliver.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in Walnut Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Rob Chilson officiating, with interment to follow in Greene Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, under the care and direction of Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home of Walnut Grove, Mo.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday evening in the Walnut Grove Chapel from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.