Roy Williams

Roy Meredith Williams, age 81, passed in his home surrounded by his family on July 1, 2019. He was born on October 16, 1937 in Sewickly, PA to John Addison and Marguerite Amend Williams, and was raised in the borough of Dormont in Pittsburgh.

Roy came from humble beginnings, and was hard working from the age of 11, on a neighborhood newspaper route, taking tickets in a movie theatre, setting up pins in a bowling alley, and cleaning in a friend’s bar. During the Summers in his late teens, he worked for H.J. Heinz and also at US Steel.

Roy was an avid sportsman from an early age, playing baseball and basketball throughout high school. He lettered in high school track, running the 100 and 220 yard sprints, and competing in the high jump as well.

Roy graduated from Dormont High School Class of 1955, before attending Greenbrier Military Academy. While at Greenbrier, Roy was tasked with guarding Jerry West in a basketball game, and held West under his scoring average. He went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh studying business.

In 1959, Roy was drafted and served in the US Army. After training in Fort Knox, KY and Fort Belvoir, VA, he was given orders and stationed in Okinawa, Japan until 1961.

Upon his return to the US, Roy pursued a career in pharmaceutical sales with McKesson Robbins. His territory included Northeastern PA. During one of his sales calls at Meadville City Hospital Pharmacy, he met his future wife Peggy, who was a nursing student there.

On a sweltering September 3rd 1966, Roy married the love of his life, Margaret Ann Everett. The newlyweds, who were living in Meadville, transferred to Connecticut for work, and enjoyed travelling to New York City on the weekends.

The couple relocated to Warren, OH, where they started their family. Roy joined Everett Industries as the wheel plant manager in 1968 and helped build the business over almost 50 years. Roy retired as Vice President in 2017.

Together, Roy and Peggy spent countless hours on the sidelines celebrating their children’s artwork, piano & dance recitals, band concerts, swim meets, tennis matches and ice hockey games. Always a family man, Roy spent his spare time both coaching and cheering on his four kids as they played Howland Athletic Club soccer. He also later enjoyed playing with his five grand kids at that same Howland Township park.

Roy enjoyed traveling with family to many different places including: Spring breaks to Disney and the beach in Florida, many trips to the Indianapolis 500, road trips to visit different colleges, and well planned vacations to NYC, Chicago, Maine, Boston, Washington DC, Arizona, Paris, and a spectacular one to London for the Millennium. In recent Winters, Roy and Peggy lived as snowbirds in Longboat Key, FL.

Some of his favorite things to do over the years included playing cards with his friends at the Buckeye Club in Warren, learning about and successfully playing the stock market, and listening to Johnny Cash. Roy loved golfing with his friends and his son at courses across the country, and especially at Trumbull Country Club, where Roy amassed many awards for exceptional play.

Roy was a Pittsburgh Penguins season ticket holder for 20 years starting in 1985, and made hundreds of trips to Pittsburgh with family and friends to cheer on the Stanley Cup Champions.

Dad was a talented cook and enjoyed teaching his family how to master the holiday turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and especially the gravy, for large family dinners during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Roy will be missed by his wife of 53 years, Peggy; daughters Lara S. Lerville (Jerome), Dana E. Williams (Joe), Cary R. Stokey (Gary), and son Reed M. Williams (Kelsey); two grandsons and three grand-daughters; a brother, John A. Williams Jr., (83) of Sarasota, FL; two nieces and two nephews. Besides Roy’s parents John A. Williams Sr. and Marguerite Amend Williams, he was preceded in death by his sister, Arlene Penrose Gibb.

Roy also leaves behind many near and dear lifelong friends from Dormont High School.

The Williams Family wishes their best regards to everyone who offered support and caregiving throughout Roy’s battle with declining health. A Special Thank You to our adopted family member and terrific career Registered Nurse, Denise Thompson Newhouse – we could not have survived without your countless house calls that always ended with a smile. THANKS!

In accordance with Roy’s wishes, cremation will be followed by the installation of a bench at Howland Township Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4pm to 7pm on Friday July 5th, 2019 at The Buckeye Club located at 366 North Park Avenue in Warren, Ohio.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Mario Lemieux Foundation: Raising Funds for Cancer Research (https://www.mariolemieux.org/ ), in Roy’s memory.

Dad, we will see you in our dreams!