Richard Norman Williams
Of Rolling Meadows

Mr. Williams was born November 24, 1927, in Adrian, Michigan to Ancel and Marian (nee Swenkerud) Williams. He died Sunday, June 22, 2008 at ManorCare of Arlington Heights.

A tremendous jazz fan, Richard famously once shared a bottle of whiskey with Louis Armstrong in the alley after an early Chicago club gig. He had rhythm, going undefeated while representing his regiment in numerous Army boxing tournaments and remaining an enthusiastic dancer so long as he could walk. He was athletic, the captain of his basketball team at Taft High School in Norwood Park and later of his wrestling team at Northwestern University, which he attended thanks to an academic scholarship and the G.I. Bill. He graduated from Northwestern with a B.S. in chemical engineering and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He retired from Norton Company in 1988 after 28 years of service.

Richard overcame extreme adversity in his life, including a vicious street beating in his 20s that put him in a 3-week coma and caused doctors to express astonishment at his will to live and eventual recovery.

He loved his family and treasured his friends.

Richard is survived by his wife Charlene (nee Pollard), whom he married October 24, 1954, in St. Louis, MO; his children Charles (Mary) Williams of Lakeville, MN and Kirk (Jean) Williams of Ponte Vedra, FL; his grandchildren Rachel, Eric, David and John Williams, Jessica (Brock) OʼShell, Shaina (Nikolas) Harding and Joyce Huang; his great grandchildren Ashton and Grace OʼShell; his sister Jean (Robert) Oldenburg; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Robert S. Williams.

Visitation Friday, June 27, 2008 from 10 AM until the time of funeral service at 11 AM at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights.

Burial will be at Union Ridge Cemetery, in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights.