Roger V. Williams

Roger Vincent Williams, 73, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

A native of Red Bank, NJ, Roger was a son of the late Walter and Rose Capello Kluchki.

Roger Williams invented the Dad joke. His capacity to crack himself and others up was unparalleled. He was a lifelong lover of learning, wisdom, and education in all forms. He was a bibliophile in the truest sense and was in love with history, particularly anything with the Civil War. He was intent on sharing this passion with his girls.

Roger loved sports of all kinds, but especially Alabama football, baseball, and basketball. He lamented his height (5’7 if you asked him, but 5’5 if you asked his doctor), as he longed to play basketball on a team. At the age of 6 he could recite the stats for all of the players on the Yankees. He adopted the sports teams of all three of his daughters’ Alma maters as though he had gone there himself.

Roger grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he, his brother Walter, and his cousin Gregory lived as best friends. He talked often about his memories of playing baseball in the neighborhood until dark every day in the summer and going to the Jersey shore.

Roger loved the theatre, particularly musicals, from a very young age. He felt at home at ACT and performed in many shows there, also assisting with all aspects of production over his years as a volunteer.

He loved to travel and visit family all over the country. Family mattered to him a lot – he remembered every special occasion, birthday, and anniversary. If he couldn’t be there in person, a card would always arrive from Roger. It is impossible to describe the unique void that is left by his loss.

He is survived by his children, Krissy McCulloch, Maggie Williams and Rebecca Williams; grandchildren, Fiona and Graeme; sister, Denise Gambill (Mark), and her children, Gregory and Katie; and brother, Walter Kluchki (Pam Elkins), and his children, Christopher, Suzanne, and Roger.

The graveside service for Mr. Williams will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 9, at Green Hills Cemetery, Asheville. The family will host a gathering at their home following the service.

To celebrate and preserve his love of the arts, the family asks that donations be made to the Asheville Community Theatre in lieu of flowers.