Obituary of Robert Hillis Williams, Jr.

Robert Hillis Williams Jr., 64, of Wytheville, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, September 28th, 2023. He was born March 3rd, 1959, in Wythe County and was preceded in death by his father Robert H. Williams Sr. and his sister Bobby Ann Williams. He was the Chair of both the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Radford University and held a BA in English from the College of William and Mary, an MA and PhD in Education (Reading Specialist for the MA, Curriculum and Instruction for the PhD) from Virginia Tech, and an MS in English from Radford. In addition to his academic accomplishments, he was a proficient welder and machinist, as well as an avid hot rodder, car enthusiast, and motorcyclist. He is survived by his wife of 30 years Kathy Sands Williams; daughters and sons-in-law Virginia Ann Williams and Zachary Burch, Grace Katherine Williams and Bill Timmins; son Robert Charles Williams; grandson Brently Burch Williams; mother, Ann E Cox Williams; sister and brother-in law Dixie (Susie) Williams and Tommy Vaught. A host of extended family and friends also survive. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wytheville Meeting Center, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville, VA 24382. The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorial donations to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, 280 North Providence Road, Suite 6, Media PA 19063. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.