Bobby Williams

Bobby was born in Lexa, AR, on October 26, 1945, to Walter Washington, Sr., and Arlene Smith. He accepted Christ at a young age and, along with his family, attended Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Helena, AR. He attended St. Cyprian Catholic School, later graduating from Eliza Miller High School in 1964. Bobby was voted the Wittiest and one of the neatest students in his class.

After graduating from high school in 1964, he moved to Milwaukee, WI, to pursue better opportunities. Drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1965, Bobby was the only soldier in his basic training class to earn the sharpshooter medal. He became a Medical Specialist and completed his service at Fort Carson, Colorado, in November 1967, where he was honorably discharged after achieving the rank of Sergeant.

On November 19, 1966, Bobby married his dedicated wife, Lorene Kelly, and together they raised two children, Anthony (Tony) and Tanya, in a home filled with love and laughter.

Bobby worked as a machinist at Johnson Controls for 29 years. He was a dedicated union steward and a member of both the IAW and Teamsters Unions. As a union steward, he was most proud of a grievance that the U.S. Supreme Court decided in the union’s favor. During a brief layoff, he also worked as a licensed private investigator for James E. Nash and Associates. Later, he went on to work for Snap-On Tools, and after 10 years, Bobby retired in 2008. To keep busy in retirement, he worked part-time at COA Youth and Family Centers. He loved spending time with family, catching up with friends, watching the neighbors from his chair, telling jokes, and sharing tall tales. Bobby was ordained as a Deacon in 2015 and has been a faithful member of Community Baptist Church of Greater Milwaukee. His outgoing personality, quick wit, and unique laugh will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Bobby passed away peacefully on June 3, 2025. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Washington Sr.; his mother, Arlene Foreman; his stepfather, Olar Foreman; his brothers, Leon Smith and LaConia M. Williams; and his sister, Levance Smith.

Bobby leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Lorene, of 58½ years; son Anthony ‘Tony’ (Sherrie) Williams; daughters Tanya Williams and Renita Switzer; grandchildren Lakesha (James) Gordon, Anthony (Brandee) Williams, their mother Connie Williams, Reaia (Damon) Manns, and Charis (Perry) Lindsey; nine great-grandchildren; siblings Geraldine Williams, Johnny White, Carolyn Washington, Kenneth (Julia) Foreman, and Walter Washington, Jr.; his Aunt Verlena Stuart; his loving church family at Community Baptist Church of Greater Milwaukee; and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM, on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Community Baptist Church of Greater Milwaukee, 2249 North Sherman Boulevard, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Interment in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, Wisconsin on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM.

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