Rev. Charles R. Williams, CSV, died unexpectedly during the early morning of Friday, April 25, 1986. He had been ill with the flu and died in his sleep. Father was 76 years old.
Since 1966, Father Charles had been living in Boca Raton, Florida. During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, he was a lecturer at Barry and at St. Joseph Colleges in Florida. Since 1973, he had been retired. Higher education was a primary focus for Father’s ministry in the early years of his life as well. From 1942 through 1954, he taught zoology at DePaul, at Barat College and at Lewis College in Illinois. In 1954, he was appointed principal of Spalding Institute in Peoria, a post which he held until 1959.
Community service was the other focus of Father Williams’ ministry. He served on the Provincial Council during several administrations. He was the Director of Vocations for the Province for a number of years and later was Provincial Treasurer from 1959-1966. During the latter period he supervised the construction of St. Viator High School and of the Viatorian Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Charles Williams entered the Congregation in 1933 and made his first profession in 1934. He studied at St. Viator College and at the University of Illinois at Urbana. His theological studies were done at the Catholic University of America and he later earned a doctorate in zoology at the University of Illinois. Father Williams was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1941, along with Ed Gorman, Mike Ranahan, Pat Toomey, Joe Tremonti, Elder Senesac and Francis E. Williams.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, April 28, 1986 at St. Vincent’s Church in Delray Beach, Florida, where Father provided parochial assistance. A wake was held at Peterson Funeral Home, in Chicago, on Tuesday, April 29, 1986 followed by another Funeral Mass at St. Viator Church in Chicago on Wednesday, April 30, 1986 at 10:00 AM. Burial was in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
Please remember Father Williams in your prayers and at a liturgy of the Eucharist.
Taken from a letter to the Viatorian Community from the Provincial, Rev. Patrick W. Render, CSV