Citadel Alumni Obituaries

John Robert Williamson, of Rowlett, TX, went peacefully to his Lord and
Savior at 7:30 in the evening of Saturday, the 19th of January. A private
graveside service will be held Thursday, January 24, 2013 in Magnolia
Cemetery. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel. Born in
Fort Worth, TX on March 28, 1943, John grew up in Orange, TX, the son of
Robert Darnell Williamson and Audrey Anderson Williamson. Upon graduating
high school, he enrolled at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He was Business
Manager of The Brigadier (newspaper) and Sports Editor for The Sphinx
(yearbook). He was on the Dean’s List and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in
Political Science. It was while a cadet that he met the love of his life and
future wife, Ruth Carol Tharin Smith. He and Tharin (nicknamed DeeDee) met
at a picnic. Originally, neither planned to attend the picnic, but Fate was
not deterred: they did go, they did meet…and it was instant love. John and
Tharin married and spent 48 years in happy union with each other. John’s
career began in South Carolina in commercial banking. Over the course of two
decades, he worked for three banking corporations as vice-president and
branch manager. This phase of his career ended in Louisiana in 1985.
Following this, he joined the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
in its Houston, TX office and so began his career in the public sector. He
rose to the level of Section Chief and Investigations Specialist and after a
much lauded career, he retired in 2005. His retirement would prove
short-lived, though, as the FDIC called him out of retirement to assist with
the home mortgage debacle that was crippling the country in the late 2000s.
He worked diligently in this capacity-and helped train the next
generation-until cancer forced him into a second retirement. In his private
life, John was active as a civic leader, including long-standing
participation in Rotary International in both Louisiana and South Carolina
Rotary Clubs. Yet always most important to John was family. A compassionate
father, he and his wife raised three sons. He leaves behind many friends and
colleagues who will remember him for his integrity, character, and kindness.
He leaves behind a family thankful for his devotion and love, each of whom
will cherish memories of times spent in his gentle company. John is preceded
in death by his parents and by his granddaughter, Anna Grace. He is survived
by his adoring wife, Tharin, of Rowlett, TX; eldest son, Robert Stewart
Williamson, wife Diane, of Pageland, SC, and their children Kyle Alexander
Williamson, Conor Jourdan Williamson, Shawn Vijay Gopaul, Kristina Diane
Gopaul, Andrew Vijay Gopaul, Shantie Diane Mathis; and great-grandchildren
Tristan Wayne Mathis, Kylee Noel Mathis, Rylan Wayne Mathis; middle son,
Paul Andrew Williamson, wife Lessley, and their children Emily Hart
Williamson and Paul Andrew Williamson, Jr. of Lafayette, LA; and youngest
son David Bruce Williamson, wife Larissa, and daughters Sophia Grace
Williamson and Julia Faith Williamson, of Frisco, TX. John lived a full life
and gave of himself unreservedly. He fought the valiant fight, but in the
end, Paradise called and he answered. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that a donation be made to one’s favorite animal advocacy charity.
A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting
www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/
charleston.

Tags: 1965