1936 – 2014
Gainesville – Winton Edwin “Skip” Williams, 78, died peacefully Friday, June 27, 2014, at Haven Hospice. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister, Anna Catherine Hunt, and his niece, Lauren Hunt.
Upon obtaining his Bachelor’s degree and completing the Navy ROTC program at Tulane University, he was commissioned and served on a small combatant in the North Atlantic that was part of our Country’s Distant Early Warning Line. While serving in the Navy, he met and married the mother of his two children, Alice Irish, of Newport, Rhode Island, who contributed so significantly to his life until her death in early January, 1993.
Following his military service, he attended law school at the University of Mississippi and, later, received an advanced degree in law from Yale University After practicing law and being active in management of small businesses, he joined the faculty of the University of Florida’s College of Law in 1969 where he taught commercial law courses and seminars until his retirement in 2003. In addition to authoring books and articles, he gave continuing legal education lectures to lawyers in Florida. He was a visiting professor at law schools in California, Texas, Poland and South Africa. His principal collateral duties in legal education consisted of chairing UF Law’s Admissions Committee for many years and serving as a member of the Test Question Review Committee of the Law School Admissions Council. He served on the Board of Directors of Campus USA Credit Union for over 40 years, chairing that Board several times during his tenure.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Moberly, who, since their marriage in December of 1996, has been a loving and generous partner and a devoted grandmother to their six grandchildren. He leaves two children, Becki O’Connor and Stephen Williams; a son-in-law, Michael O’Connor; and a daughter-in-law, Rhonda Williams; Jeanne’s daughter, Laura Moberly and her partner, Ron Schwarz; Jeanne’s son, Richard Moberly and his wife, Laura McLeod Moberly; and six grandchildren: Sean and Haley O’Connor, Carli and Weston Williams, and Luke and Henry Moberly. He is also survived by his niece, Susan Hunt and his nephew, Robert Hunt. He will be missed by his entire family, his many friends, and by his two Yellow Labs, Bogey and Lilly.
Mr. William’s Memorial Service will take place at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5916 N.W. 39th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida at 3:00 P.M. on July 2, 2014, officiated by Reverend Lauris Vidal. A reception from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. will follow at the family’s home Arrangements are under the care of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Haven Hospice, 4200 N.W. 90th Boulevard, Gainesville, Florida, 32606. Please visit his memorial page at: www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com
Published in Gainesville Sun from June 29 to June 30, 2014