Robert Charles Williamson Jr.

Robert “Bobby” Charles Williamson Jr. was born on October 17, 1963 in Portland, Oregon to JoAnn and Bob Williamson Sr. Bob Sr. and JoAnn lived in Montavilla where Bob Sr. worked at Bill McCord’s Service Station on 92nd and Division. JoAnn worked at Meier and Frank, until Bobby was born.

In 1963, rent was $75 a month, Soviet Missiles were pulled from Cuba, in the turmoil of the 60’s an estimated 200,000 civil rights demonstrators participated in a Freedom March and President Kennedy was assassinated. But for these young parents, life was simple and with the addition of Bobby into the world… their world was perfect.

Reflecting on Bobby’s early life, Bobby observed his Dad’s perseverance to provide a good income and his overt dedication to family, which most likely inspired these characteristics displayed in his son Bob as an adult. Bob Sr. moved his family to a series of different towns in pursuit of good jobs through the support of his own dad, R.B. Williamson, construction superintendent. At 9 months old, Bobby and family moved to California, first to Santa Cruz, then onto Concord, and from there to New Mexico, to Albuquerque and eventually to Carlsbad. Here at two years old, his brother, John Alan, was born. Perhaps here in this desert community is where Bob’s adventurous spirit began, once at 2 years old he walked out the front door on his own and had the whole neighborhood frantically looking for him. Thankfully, he was escorted back as happy as can be by two young kids who found him across the street, heading out to the desert.

After Bob Sr. was diagnosed with possible fatal condition, the family moved back to Portland for surgery with the plan to return to Salt Lake City for another job. However, leaving their furniture behind, they decided to stay in Portland for health reasons and family support. Now living at 118th and Lincoln, Bobby started first grade at Mill Creek Grade School. Here is where Bobby met the little girl named Susie, which he dedicated his love by naming his favorite stuffed dog, “Susie”. At 7 years old, the family expanded to three boys with the addition of younger brother Daniel “Danny”, born April 1970.

One more career move for his dad, Bob Sr., moved them to a new location in Keizer/ Salem and allowed them to purchase their own house where Bobby spent most of his youth. Three active boys’ interests centered around baseball and Boy Scouts. Bobby loved being pitcher at baseball, but scouting adventures dominated his adolescent years. Perhaps this scouting ethical culture is where Bobby learned the values of teamwork, strong leadership skills, personal responsibility and accountability for others that he demonstrated throughout his life.

Bobby is known for his dedicated unstoppable work ethic as an adult. This characteristic was obvious even at age 14, when he had a paper route delivering 65 morning newspapers at 6 am, seven days a week. This included collecting the payments, which wasn’t always easy. His next job was pulling weeds at Frey’s Thriftway and they quickly saw this young teen’s keen work ethic and hired him as bottle boy. He continued to steadily grow, improve his responsibility and skills in different jobs and eventually he started working at Stereo King on 82nd in the early 90’s. Here he met a valued lifelong friend in Howard Katz.

Bob connected with his brother, Randy Bennett, and became very good friends, as well as brothers. They enjoyed a common love of sport and music and both felt a strong connection through similar interests.

Bob, as an inexperienced entrepreneur in 2007, started with nothing but his integrity, extremely focused and forward-thinking work ethic and a belief in himself that eventually established 4 successful companies, with one in development. Starting in 2011, his largest company CTI was his focal point. CTI required weeks of invested training over the years, continual capital investment and many long 14 hour working days to create and maintain it. He was a respected figure in the CTI community.

Bob conducted all matters of business with honesty, truthfulness and remained fair and ethical in even the most difficult situations. He seemed to know the marketplace and had innovative ideas and concepts that continued to grow his companies and ran them in conjunction with the seasonal ebb and flow of the businesses. Through his passion and leadership, he achieved a reputation of quality results in all interpersonal dealings, processes and in end-product results.

Bob was always doing something. If he wasn’t working, being with family or friends, buying a new impressive car or at a Portland Blazer game… he was traveling. Bob travels included trips to Aruba, Hawaii, Acapulco, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, snorkeled in Truk Lagoon and Palau, and Australia to visit family and to experience Aussie adventures on his own.

Personally, when I think of Bob, I remember him as a constant, calm, responsible, adventurous and fun spirit. We all highly respect his business dealings, but the personal, reliable friend and beloved family member is what resonates with all of us. We remember Bobby being silly with the kids, or planning an adventure water rafting with the family, or remember just walking into the living room and seeing that still, calm figure. Without a big noise, you knew Bobby loved and liked you and he would make time for you. Bob made life more fun.

With his death, we reflect back to see a good man. His friends remember him with a big smile, a Blazer fan or their most trustworthy friend; family remember him as always being there and chiseling time out of his busy schedule to be at birthdays or holidays or to support them; his employees remember him as a respected boss, that went out of his way to ensure they felt valued, but also fairly and financially cared for.

Bob created and lived a good life… but it ended too soon.

Goodbye, Mustang Bob.

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Robert Charles Williamson Jr. of Oregon City passed away at home on November 13, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at Advantage Gateway Funeral Home, 1515 NE 106th Ave, Portland, OR 97220 on December 7th, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Directions from 205 North: Take exit 21A from 205N. At the light, take a right onto Glisan St. Turn left on to 102nd Ave. Turn right on to Halsey. Funeral home will be on your left.

Burial will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park at 3:00 pm; 118001 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, Or 97086.

Bob was born October 17, 1963. He was the oldest of three boys. He graduated from South Salem High School.

Bob is remembered as a wise, dependable, fun friend, and loved family member. His keen practical forward-thinking leadership and business sense created three successful companies and a fourth in development. He is gone too soon.

He is survived by: his mother JoAnn, His brothers, John, Dan and Randy, as well as many other family members and loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his father Robert Charles Williamson Sr.