Robert Aura Williams

Robert A. Williams passed away on August 20, 2024, near Austin, TX. He was just a month shy of his 84th birthday. Also known as Dr. Bob, Dad and Grandpa, Bob was born in Lusch, Montana. At the age of six, the Williams family moved to Richey, Montana where Bob graduated from high school before attending Rocky Mountain College, the University of Georgia and Georgia State University for his undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees respectively. Bob was also a US Army veteran who coincidentally was honorably discharged over a half century ago-also on August 20th.

Preceded in death by his parents Aura and Katie Williams, stepfather Clarence Olson and his brother-in-law Wally Daeley, Robert A. Williams is survived by his sister JoAnn, his son Jeff and fiancé Carrie, daughter Jacqueline and son-in-law Shawn, his grandchildren Julianna, Katerina and husband Jonathan, Jeffrey, and fiancé Demie, as well as one great-grandson Messiah. Bob leaves behind several nieces, grandnieces, step-grandchildren, future great-grandchildren in addition to many, many friends and colleagues including his long-time partner, Mary.

As a professor, Bob Williams transformed science education in Southern Illinois. He arrived in the Fall of 1973 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and began a career that spanned more than 30 years. Science education was Bob’s passion, and he was relentless in his ongoing work related to all aspects of science, from environmental, to aerospace, to biology and botany. His work was contagious as he prepared future teachers, collaborated with present teachers, and led local schools in their search for quality science in the curriculum. Bob’s career at SIUE exemplified the range of roles and responsibilities of a professor. He initiated and conducted research grants, taught with vigor, and performed service in local schools as well as nationally. In addition, he organized science-related trips in the US and around the world with teachers. Most significantly, Bob authored and co-authored numerous books for teachers which were well received and served a niche unknown- preschool science. Internationally recognized, Bob conducted professional development workshops and seminars in numerous parts of the world. Bob became a friend to all- old, young, foreign, domestic, educated or not. After retiring from SIUE, Bob made his home in Texas where he spent time with his friends, family and grandchildren while still promoting early childhood education even into his 80s.

Throughout his adult life, Bob travelled the world having visited every continent and over 130 countries. Along the way, he made new friends and continually learned about different cultures whilst collecting “holey” rocks and tens of thousands of beer labels for his growing collection. His world-travels often included hiking and adventuring such as diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, climbing Mauna Loa in Hawaii, exploring Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines in Peru, star gazing in the deserts of Big Bend National Park in TX, visiting the Egyptian pyramids and hiking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

Dr. Bob/Dad/Grandpa was loved very much and will be missed by many! In his memory, please consider a donation to one of these charities as Bob was a strong believer in giving back and paying it forward:

www.heifer.org

https://www.stlabre.org/

https://www.sunfoundation.org/