Rudy Williams

After his education, he met and married Raye Williams. It was a whirlwind courtship. They had known each other through mutual friends, and after one date they eloped to Blackshear, Georgia and were married. That marriage has lasted almost 80 years! They had three children, Linda, Donna and Steve.

Rudy began his working career as a piano tuner and refinisher. After that he went to work for Borum Boats. He then went to work for Jacksonville Paint as the General Manager of the Florida division of Mobile Paints. He was with them for well over 30 years before his retirement.

His interests included; fishing, golfing, playing cards and traveling. He and his wife did extensive traveling and visited every state in the US. He most loved to be with his family and friends. He and his wife entertained their many friends and family in their lovely homes when they lived in Crescent City and later in Jacksonville.

Rudy was an active member in his church both at Christ’s Church in Mandarin and at the time of his death he was a member of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. John’s County. During his membership at Christ’s Church he was instrumental in the building of the church on Old St. Augustine Road and the new sanctuary on Greenland Road. He served there as an elder for many years.

Rudy was a man of few words but like the old saying from E.F. Hutton—when he spoke you listened. He may not have been formally educated but he was a very smart man with a great business acumen, wit, and a common sense approach to life.

Rudy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one sister and one brother, daughter (Donna Yeomans) and grandson (Andy Yeomans).