Rod Williams Obituary (1930

George Roderick "Rod" Batcheler Williams died on Jan. 3 with his wife, Anita, by his side. Rod was born in Victoria, B.C., on July 10, 1930, to George "Billy" and Lillian "Freda" Williams. He grew up in Victoria's Oak Bay neighborhood, and attended Glenlyon School and Oak Bay High School. As a boy, he played rugby and cricket, and enjoyed fishing, hunting and summers at Lake Cowichan. After graduation he started work in the investments division at what is now Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and spent the rest of his career in the banking and appraising industry. He married his first wife, Priscilla "Ruth" Primrose, in 1955. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1960, settling first in Bremerton, Wash., where Rod had secured a job with Great Northwest Federal Savings & Loan. He soon relocated to the firm's Seattle office, and lived in Seattle before settling in Kirkland in 1968. Rod and Ruth had two daughters: Heather, born in 1963, and Anne, in 1965. In 1973, a promotion drew the family back to Bremerton, to a beautiful old house on Marine Drive, where Rod lived until soon before his death. Rod rose through the ranks at Great Northwest, retiring in 1983 as a senior vice president. He then worked as President at Seacoast Mortgage, and later as an independent construction inspector for mortgage lenders. Ruth died in 1987. Two years later, Rod met Anita Moore; they married in 1990 and would have celebrated their 24th anniversary on Jan. 11. Rod and Anita led a rich, full life together, hosting countless dinner parties; traveling to Europe, Mexico and many parts of the United States; and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Rod was an exceptional, self-taught gourmet cook and an excellent amateur photographer. He played tennis regularly at the Bremerton Tennis and Swim Club, and enjoyed the arts, especially the opera and symphony. He was a Bremerton Rotary member for 35 years, serving as president in 1988-89. He was also a member of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, serving as district governor, and served as president of the Seattle chapter of the Appraisal Institute. He had many dear friends, and cared deeply about his community. He'll be remembered for his kind soul, offbeat humor, strong opinions and love of good food, wine and conversation. He was devoted to his family, and the many cats who shared his house over the years. Rod is survived by his wife Anita of Bremerton; sister Sheila Page of Victoria; daughter Heather Williams and her husband, Doug Grant, of Bryn Mawr, Penn.; daughter Anne Williams and her husband, Matt Rasmussen, of Eugene, Ore.; stepdaughter Jennifer Hopkins and her husband, Randall Hopkins, of Walla Walla; stepson Gregory Moore and his wife, Misa Moore, of Seattle; and grandsons Drew, Miles, Ryland, Toby, Cameron, Roderick ("Rory") and Lucas. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Rosemary Williams of Sidney, B.C. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bremerton Rotary Foundation, Kitsap Historical Society or Bremerton Symphony.