Robert L. Williams

Robert Lee Williams was born June 9, 1948 in Nashville, Kansas the oldest son of Lawson and Mary Elizabeth (White) Williams.  He lived in Sun City, Kansas until the age of 7 when the family moved to Pratt.  When he was 8 years old the family made Manchester, Oklahoma home.  He graduated 8^th grade from Manchester Grade School in 1962 and from Wakita High School with the Class of 1966.  He attended college at Northwestern State University in Alva, OK for two years.  

Bob moved to El Dorado where he began working for Kirby Funeral Home.  In 1969, he was called to serve in the United States Army during Vietnam War.  During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded a Bronze Star with a V-Device for his heroic actions and a Purple Heart.  After his discharge, Bob returned home to Manchester and went to work for Elliott Funeral Homes in Anthony and Harper.  In 1975, he enrolled in Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, during which time he was employed by Smith Funeral Home in Guthrie.  In May of 1977, his childhood dream came true when he completed the Embalming and Funeral Directing Course, eventually becoming licensed in Kansas as well as Oklahoma.  He returned to working for the Elliott family until 1980 when he began working for the Parsons family.  In 1982, he and his wife, Julia, purchased the Parsons Funeral Home, later naming it Williams Funeral Home.  They also owned and operated the Wakita Funeral Home in Wakita, Oklahoma and the Argonia Mortuary in Argonia, Kansas for many years.  In 2004, Bob sold the funeral home and it became Prairie Rose Funeral Home.  He continued serving families, and in 2020 his children, Autumn and James, purchased the funeral homes.  He semi-retired in 2021, when he moved home to Manchester to live with his daughter and her family, fully retiring in 2023 after suffering a stroke.

His life was different after the stroke but he only lost his mobility.  His mind was still sharp as a tack and he enjoyed his days watching his favorite old western shows, bird watching, and the company of his cat, family, and caregivers.  

Although he never attended church regularly, Bob had a great faith and talked to Jesus every night.  After being ill for a few weeks, his family moved him to the funeral home, where he spent much of his life, and it was there that he went to meet his Lord and Savior on March 5, 2026 at the age of 77.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Albert Leroy and Billy Dee Williams; and his nephews, Scotty Lee Williams and Jason Allyn Sherman.  

He will be deeply missed by his children:  Brandy Rice and husband, Eric, James Williams, Summer Williams and fiancé, Jim Lee, and Autumn Kloefkorn and husband, Aaron; his grandchildren:  Stephany Carter and husband, Chris, Wylie Williams, and Lawson Kloefkorn; great-grandchildren: Kayden, Eternity, and Destiny; the mother of his children, Julia Vavra (Tom Blankenship); nieces and nephews: Lynette Evans and son, Colby (Melissa) Evans,  Lee (Kathy) Mund, Gina Mund and daughter, Brittany Fillbrandt, Nathan Schmidt, Preston Schmidt, and Becky Rader and son, Blake Rader; he was affectionately known as UB or Uncle Bob to many others. He will also be deeply missed by his caregivers who made it possible for Autumn to keep him at home.  A special thank you to Cathy Williams, Sarah Bruey, Andrea Catherwood, Tammy Bowling, and Zoe Niethamer.

Funeral service was held 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2026 at the Anthony Christian Church with burial following in the Manchester Cemetery, Manchester, Oklahoma.

Memorials in memory of Bob may be made payable to the Bob Williams Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.  The memorial fund will be divided amongst many local organizations that Bob would appreciate supporting.