John R. Williams

Dr. John R. Williams, Jr. Ph.D., age 85, died April 6, 2015 at his home in Gulfport. A native of Malone, NY and a resident of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast for over 30 years. Dr. Williams was preceded in death by his parents Dr. John R. Williams, Sr. and Mildred Robbins Williams and his brother Dr. James F. Williams. He is survived by his sister-in-law Marge Williams; a niece Jacqueline Williams Rentzepis (Michael) all of Eau Claire, WI; two nephews, Robert J. Williams (Julie) of San Mateo CA, Michael R. Williams (Solange) of Severna Park, MD, four great nephews and two great nieces, and good friend Ray Gustafson. Dr. Williams received his Doctorate Degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO; he also studied at the Sorbonne University of Paris. He retired as Professor Emeritus in Nineteenth-Century French Literature from the University of New Orleans. He spent more than twenty years at the University of Kansas in Lawrence Kansas. Among his positions there were director and instructor with the French Summer Institute in Paris and often served as Chair of the Foreign Language Department. He authored numerous articles which he presented at conferences throughout the country. He was author of the book “Jules Michelet: Historian as Critic of French Literature”. Dr. Williams was a classically trained violinist. He performed with symphony orchestras along the coast, including the Mobile Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Symphony where he served as Personnel Director for several years. He served as an Army Inspector in Germany with the headquarters of the adjutant general staff of the Second Army, with his language skills; he also served as interpreter with the 7th Army Symphony during travels through Europe. Thank you to Notre Dame Hospice, Nurse Hayden and Aide Fanta for the wonderful care they gave him during the last month. A private service was held on Monday evening April 6, 2015 with close friends at his home. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport was in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com