Robert L. Williams

Robert L. Williams was born on November 6, 1930 in South Charleston, West Virginia and left this earth to join his beloved wife, Bernie on March 12, 2021. He was the fourth child of Arnold and Lillian Williams along with brothers and sisters Arnold, Jr., Harold, Phyllis, and Dolores. While the family grew up in difficult times, they always had food on the table and more than enough love and faith in God to go around. Home always seemed filled with joy, happiness, and laughter.

Bob was a popular guy in high school playing multiple sports and was the President of his senior class. Having earned a football scholarship to a local college Bob chose instead to follow in the footsteps of his brothers enlisting in the United States Air Force serving as a technical engineer. While stationed in St. Albans, Vermont Bob met Bernie Malkewich a Canadian Air Force radar technician, it was love at first sight and his future was set. They married in 1953 and loved and took care of each other for 62 more years. Their only child Jody was born in 1954.

After the military Bob led a varied career living in multiple places far from his home in West Virginia including overseas assignments in Germany and Okinawa while affiliated with the Martin Marietta Corporation. Upon returning to the states, he joined the Lockheed-Martin Corporation Aerospace Division experiencing personal success in his career at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston and at Michoud Manufacturing and Assembly Facility, in New Orleans, Louisiana. At NASA Bob worked on flight transcription with the Skylab crew and on the Space Shuttle program’s external tank manufacturing and assembly.

Bob loved golf, working as a caddy in his youth and playing whenever he could. He even got Bernie in on the sport! They both loved and excelled at bowling and won multiple tournament trophies through the years. These activities allowed for great friendships with fellow overseas families while they were far from home—these relationships lasted through the years. He was a skilled, self-taught, craftsman and mechanic and could do anything he set his mind to.

After retirement Bob and Bernie moved back to Texas to be close to their daughter Jody and family—husband Mike and grandchildren Melani and Jordan. They always attended their grandkid’s events and spoiled them with love. They unconditionally loved and supported us all with open hearts.

Bob and Bernie lived with Mike and Jody in later years and after the passing of his beloved “Bern”, Bob was lost without his best friend. He is survived by his daughter Jody, son-in-law (but, more like a son) Mike Mantell, granddaughter Melani and husband Paul Molina, great-grandchildren, Genevieve, Juliette, and Oliver. Grandson Jordan Mantell and his family, Jessica, and Shelby.

While we are all happy that they are together once again -- our hearts now have a hole that he once filled. If only all could experience that kind of life-long love that Bob and Bernie shared. He was a remarkable man in our eyes and will be forever missed.