Roy Ross Williams

Roy Ross Williams, age 89, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2017. He was born December 28, 1927 in Albuquerque, NM. He was raised in the North Valley of Albuquerque by his mother, Bess Stephens and attended school at St Mary’s, Los Ranchos, and graduated from Albuquerque High School. He played steel and rhythm guitars, the fiddle, and the mandolin, in many country and western bands for most of his life. He performed mostly at clubs, bars, parties, and events. A highlight was getting to play with notables Glen Campbell, Dick Bills and Merle Haggard. Roy worked at Sandia Labs as an electronic technician for 34 years participating in some of the early atomic bomb tests in the 1950s, he also worked on rocket sleds, high-speed photography, explosives, and pulse power. Roy loved riding and working on his 1960 Harley Davidson, camping and hunting, and working on electronics. In the last third of his life, he gave up his Harley Davidson and began riding a trike motorcycle. Roy and his wife Arlene took the trike and pulled a small trailer from Edgewood, NM to Fairbanks Alaska--three times! Roy and Arlene built a home and lived in Edgewood, NM. Roy was preceded in death by Arlene Williams (Alexander) his 2nd wife of 37 years, Betty Lou Salek his first wife of 20 years and step-son, Mickey Alexander. His survivors are his children - Mark Williams of Albuquerque, NM, Lynn Williams, Lynda Williams and Lane Williams of Colorado Springs, CO, his stepchildren - Jenny Blair of Ruskin, NE, Bob Alexander of Moose Creek, AK, Pennie Cherry of Millington, TN, Tom Alexander of Corpus Christie, TX and Danny Alexander of Florissant, CO and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Graveside services are at the Stanley Cemetery near Stanley NM, Friday, December 8th, at 1pm.