A memorial service celebrating the life of Robert L. “Bob” Williams, age 96, of Granville, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home with Rev. Kim Keethler-Ball and Rev. Dave Ball officiating. Inurnment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Granville.

Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home, 133 South Prospect Street in Granville.

Bob was born January 8, 1930 in Beaver, Pennsylvania, to the late Howard Lee Williams and the late Lois Belle (Anderson) Williams. He passed away on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Johnstown Pointe.

Bob's early years were spent on a farm near Alexandria, instilling in him a deep appreciation for the natural world, which eventually shaped his brilliant career. He was a proud graduate of his high school in 1947, after which he pursued higher education, earning his A.B. in History from Muskingum College in 1951. His passion for geology took him to The Ohio State University for postgraduate studies and later further intensive courses on carbonate and evaporite at the University of Alberta-Banff in the mid-1960s.

He began his career joining a partnership with Mountain Exploration in Crystal, Colorado, in 1955. From 1957-67 his expertise led him to work with significant companies like the Buckley family of Connecticut, spending five years with San Jose Oil Co. in the Philippines surface mapping the Central Valley and adjoining areas of Luzon. He spent four years with United Western in Casper, Wyoming, and was employed for three years with United Canso in Calgary doing subsurface mapping and wellsite work in Northern Alberta as well as reconnaissance of the Mackenzie Mountain front and foothills between Great Slave and Great Bear Lakes. Notably, from 1970 to 1972, Bob served as head of the geology section for the Parsons Corp. of Los Angeles, leading an ambitious U.S. AID-backed natural resources project (Catastro) in Nicaragua with four Latino field parties mapping the eastern part of the country.

Throughout his career, Bob was recognized for his contributions to geology. He was an esteemed member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Oriental Ceramic Society. In 1971, he earned his credentials as a registered Geologist in the State of California.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bob was cherished for his dedication to family. His life journey also included honorable service in the United States Marine Corps, a commitment that further defined his character and discipline.

He is survived by his granddaughters, Hunter Lee (Zach) Williams-Huskey of Columbus and Morgan Barbara (David) Zielinski of Davenport, Iowa.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Jean (Orr) Williams; son, Kent Lee Williams, and sister, Marjorie Byrd.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital for prostate cancer research.

McPeek Hoskstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Bob and his family.