Robert Starr Williams

February 20, 1920 - November 19, 2009

Robert Starr Williams Obituary (Age 90) Robert was born at home on February 20, 1919, the 2nd of identical twins, to Glenn George and Ethal Marie (Deitsch) Williams in Yakima, Washington, where he grew up and graduated from high school. As a teen Bob attended the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and watched history unfold when Hitler stormed out as Jesse Owens entered the stadium. After a year in business school Bob spent time on the high seas working on a Norwegian tramp steamer that left San Francisco, sailed down the Pacific coast, around Cape Horn, up the east coast and headed across the Atlantic to Norway before turning back to the Panama Canal because of German U boat activity. His stories of this trip entertained family and friends the rest of his life. Bob entered the University of Idaho, earned a B.S. in Geology, enlisted in the army and left for Fort Benning, GA missing his graduation ceremonies in 1943. As the Commander of the 3184th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company he was responsible for all fuel in the South Pacific Theater. He witnessed the loading of the first atom bomb onto the Enola Gay as he was landing at the air base on Tinian. After the war he stayed an extra 2 years on the islands to liquidate all military equipment. The first weekend he was home there was a picnic to celebrate the return of all the neighborhood boys and Bob met his future wife, Irene Goodale, as a blind date. They wed May 17, 1947. Children Sharon, Denise, Michael and Catherine followed as the couple moved around the Northwest while Bob pursued his career in geology. In 1956 the family moved to Moscow, ID where Bob earned a law degree at the U of I and began his 20 year career as an attorney. In his 25 or so appearances before the Idaho Supreme Court he never lost a case. In addition to his private practice he spent years as attorney and prosecutor for the City of Moscow. In retirement Bob continued to enjoy a good game of cribbage, coffee with friends, fishing, hunting and watching exhibition wrestling on Sunday television. He was a grand master in the art of a good deal whether the desired object was a rig, a gemstone, a gun, or an RV. Bob and Irene enjoyed traveling the U.S. and often visited one or another of their daughters. Bob made a reported 32 trips up the Alaska Highway including at least one trip during its construction in 1943. In 1993 they moved to back to Spokane. In 1997 their whole family celebrated Bob and Irene?s 50th wedding anniversary with a weekend party. Bob lost his beloved wife of 54 years in 2001. Still the family patriarch he then lived a quiet life and spent his final years living with his daughter Sharon. He passed away at home on November 19, 2009 with two of his daughters at his side. A family service was held at his burial in Moscow, Idaho. Bob is survived by his daughters: Sharon Williams (Spokane, WA), Denise Kjos (Portland, OR), Catherine (Dave) Torrence (Palmer, AK); son: Michael (Velda) Williams (Globe, AZ); grandchildren: David and Michelle Kjos and Thomas and Jeffrey Brajcich. Robert was preceded in death by his twin brother Roger and by his sister Dorothee.