Obituary: Roger Dean Williams

Roger Dean Williams, 75, went to be with the Lord on June 5, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born to Robert and Rena Williams on Jan. 20, 1943, in Glendale, California.

Roger spent most of his childhood growing up in the jungles of Borneo, Indonesia where his parents were pioneer missionaries. He was homeschooled by his mother until high school when he went to boarding school in Florida at Hampden DuBose Academy. He went on to study for a Bachelors in English at California State University, Los Angeles, later obtaining a Masters in School Administration. Roger enrolled in the U.S. Army during college, serving several years in the reserves.

He later married his late wife, June, with whom he had two sons. The family relocated to Prescott in 1976 where Roger would serve as youth pastor at First Baptist Church.

After losing June to a long battle with cancer, Roger later married his wife, Liz, in 1989. For over 40 years, Roger worked as both a teacher, assistant principal (Bradshaw Mountain High School and Lake Valley Elem. School), and school principal (Humboldt Elementary). The last years of his career were spent as a computer teacher at Bradshaw Mountain High School.

Roger will be remembered for his dedication and love for his family, his beautiful way of storytelling, love for reading, computers, and his students. Most importantly, he is remembered for his faith in Christ as Lord.

Roger is survived by his wife of 29 years, Liz; children, Brent, Brandon, Shane, Tia, Wes, Briana Williams, and Brittany (Rez) Wong, as well as grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his late wife, June (Apegian) Williams, parents Robert and Rena Williams, sister Starr Madsen and brother Robert Lee Williams.

A memorial service for Roger will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at Heights Church, 2121 Larry Caldwell Drive, Prescott, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a college scholarship fund for Bradshaw Mountain High School students where Roger taught for the last nine years of his teaching career. You can give online at www.gofundme.com/roger-williams-scholarship-memorial.

Information provided by survivors.