Richard K. Williams, MacArthur High School Class of 1965 Vice-President has died, on April 10, 2022, Palm Sunday.
Williams was very involved in student activities, including the chairman of the Homecoming while the Senior Class Vice President. He was in the Concert Band as a Junior and Senior, in the Student-Faculty Game as a Junior, German Club as a Junior and Senior, and on the Student Council as a Sophomore and Senior, and serving as the Student Treasurer as a Junior.
Williams moved to and lived in Greenwood, Indiana, where he died. The following obituary was published in the local paper there:
Richard Kent Williams
Richard Kent Williams, aged 75 years, 3 months, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, April 10, 2022 following a battle with metastatic bladder cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, daughter, and step-daughter.
Rich was born in Decatur, Illinois Macon County on January 16, 1947, the first child of Harrison Richard ("Bud") Williams and Norma Deardorff Williams.
He graduated from MacArthur High School in Decatur, Illinois in 1965. While at MacArthur, Rich enjoyed and excelled at playing the trumpet, was involved in both the marching and jazz bands. He and his bandmates played at the World's Fair in New York City in 1965. He also played for the varsity baseball team.
Rich attended the University of Missouri-Rolla (now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology) in January 1970, having earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois' executive program.
Former employers included A.E.Staley Company, Kane Molass Laboratories, and Madison Chemical Company (Madison, Indiana). While at Madison Chemical, he developed a method for processing and treating oily wastewater, for which he was granted a United Stated Patent in 1993. Richard retired in Greenwood, Indiana, after owning and managing a successful sign company (Boomerang, Inc., affiliated with Sign-A-Rama).
Rich was a true American patriot and was proud to have served his country in the Army, Reserves from 1970-1976, earning the rank of sergeant (E-5).
Rich married his first wife, Suzanne Breed, in 1970. Two children were born during that 27-year marriage: Natalie Smith Williams and Justin Breed Williams.
Richard met his second wife, Sally Wood Moglia, in late 1998, while battling prostate cancer. Sally was Rich's nurse; following his hospital discharge, he sent a letter to the attention of his treating nurse at the hospital, which finally made its way to her. They were married October 27, 2001; a union that lasted until his death.
Richard was a brilliant man with characteristics that included humility, integrity, honesty, and strong beliefs. He had a fierce love of God, family, and country. He had a quick wit and terrific sense of humor. He was a lifelong, die-hard Chicago Cubs fan and was grateful to watch them (finally) win a World Series in 2016. He looked forward to annual family trips to the iconic Indianapolis 500 race (held each Memorial Day weekend). Rich was a passionate Purdue University men's basketball fan. He was a proud member of the Indianapolis German American Klub. Rich and Sally traveled the world extensively, and visited locations such as Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, and France. He had an eclectic taste in music, spanning several genres: country, jazz, blues, classic rock, hard rock, and classical. He particularly enjoyed live music and shared many concerts with Natalie (Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, Kenny Chesney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, and Jimmy Buffett) just to name a very few.
He was predeceased by his parents and his favorite pet, Codicat's Lord Geoffrey, a sable Burmese (please see additional information regarding Geoff's life, below).
Richard is survived by his wife, Sally as well as his children Natalie (Todd) of Brandenburg, Kentucky and Justin (Kendra) of Lumberton, Texas. Justin and Kendra share three children: Harrison Beckett, Jameson Trade, and Caroline Grace.
Rich was a proud grandfather and watched Harrison and Jameson's baseball games as well as Caroline's cheer competitions, via Facebook live, without fail.
Richard is also survived by two siblings, and four stepchildren: Michele Moglia Klempner (Mitch), Karen Moglia Maxwell (Mark), Frank Moglia, and Tom Moglia (Ashley).
Additionally, he had four step-grandchildren: Todd and Natalie's daughter Katie Barrow (Jon), Michele and Mitch's son Zachary, Karen and Mark's daughter Amanda as well as Emma and Charlie, and Frank's daughter Delaney. Rich also had a great-grandson, Katie and Jon's son, Jensen.
Richard's funeral was a private event and was held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
Codicat's Lord Geoffrey
Codicat's Lord Geoffrey "Geoff E. Kat" a sable Burmese feline, pranced across the Rainbow Bridge on March 1, 2017 at age 19. He died of old age, at his home in Greenwood, Indiana. Geoff was whelped on January 18, 1998; the son of Tilley of Codicat's Cattery, in Dublin, Ohio.
Geoff lived a long, happy life with his best friend and caregiver, Richard Williams. He brought joy and unconditional love not only to Rich and to Rich's wife Sally, but also quickly converted even people who previously thought they did not like cats into fast friends.
In his younger years, Geoff traveled America. He visited 14 states including Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.
Geoff was a true "road warrior", riding in the car while the miles piled upon the odometer. He escorted Richard on multiple business trips, as well as visits to family and friends. Geoff enjoyed helping to navigate by perching on the dashboard, sitting in Rich's lap, or resting on his left shoulder. Geoff also watched where he and Rich had just been while resting in the rear window.
Later in his life, Geoff traveled to 2 additional states: Alabama and Florida. He loved resting in the sunbeams in a rented condo on Perdido Key, Florida.
Around Christmas 2015, Geoff became blind. Not long after that, he suffered a stroke, which limited his mobility, but not his appetite or his vest for life. Though blind, he maintained his sense of smell. He could always find his food, his water, and his potty box.
Geoff was preceded across the Rainbow Bridge by his mother, Tilley, Charlie Dickens, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (and Margaret Thatcher's litter mate) Also, Natalie (Rich's daughter's) cat Princess Haley Angelique of Cheruburm, a champagne Burmese.
Geoff was survived by his caregiver Richard Williams (who just died on April 10, 2022) and Richard's wife, Sally,
Additionally, Geoff was survived by several of his housemates (who have also since passed) including his canine friend and best animal buddy and protector Margaret Thatcher "Meg", a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Feline buddies Simon Peter (a black Persian) and Samson "Sammy)", a Norwegian Forest Cat, have also pranced across the Rainbow Bridge. Rich's daughter Natalie later acquired two other cats from Codicat cattery (who were not blood relatives of Geoff but who got along with him famously: Wrigley "Bob", a blue Burmese, and Maggie (a platinum Burmese). Wrigley and Maggie have also crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Geoff is survived by Natalie's cats Murphy (sable Burmese) and Frankie (Siamese mix).
Geoff has been missed by all who knew him. However, he left behind magnificent memories of the fabulous times, travels, companionship, and love that was shared between he and his caregiver, Rich. Geoff E. Kat was a special feline. He was a lap cat who preferred a human friend's left shoulder (always the left shoulder!) whose remains were cremated.
Geoff was interred with his master, Rich Williams, on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
