Robert "Red" Williams, 82, of Poultney, VT passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center after battling a long illness. Red grew up in South Poultney and attended Poultney High School where he met the love of his life Lorraine (Paquette) Williams. From then on, they never left each other's sides. Red attended VT Technical College and the University of Vermont earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He dedicated his career to Central Vermont Service Corporation (now Green Mountain Power) and specialized in transmission and distribution of electrical energy. Red also pursued his master's degree and served on many boards and committees. He was appointed by governors Shumlin and Scott to the Electricians' Licensing Board where he served to improve power reliability in the state. Red also was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional organization focused on advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Red was also honored by the Edison Electric Institute for his contributions and leadership on the Transmission and Distribution Committee. Red prepared and presented professional reports for several meetings for the Electrical Council of New England. He attended many conferences across the United States and very much enjoyed learning the newest technology. There are many cherished memories of Red and his wife taking opportunities to explore wherever he traveled.

Red, together with his wife, also owned and operated the Poultney Launderette for the past 54 years as well as improving housing opportunities for the community. You could find him repairing various washers, dryers, or coin machines while greeting customers with his easy smile. Red never sat still for long and always developed and learned new skills he happily passed along to his children and grandchildren. Red also was on the Poultney Board of Trustees and was tireless in his research and dedication to serving his community and contributing to make it thrive.

Red had many interests. He explored and reopened the quarry in North Poultney with his son creating slate products that were sold in several stores around the state. He also raised and bred Brittany Spaniels, enjoyed bird and deer hunting, as well as fishing and winter smelting. Red was very proud of his Welsh heritage and traveled with his wife to see his mother's homestead in Wales. Most recently he loved golfing on the league at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club with his partner Dave Capman and enjoyed telling stories of his games. Red was also an avid reader and made many trips to the Poultney Public Library. Red had a love of his workshop and was very thrifty, rarely was anything thrown away, and if you needed something, he probably had it. He made his grandchildren laugh with the "great finds" at the dump-much to his wife's dismay. He was also very proud at mastering his iPhone and sent morning texts every single day to his children and grandchildren when Covid hit and he never stopped. His use of emojis was impressive.

Although Red enjoyed keeping busy with his many interests, his greatest pleasure was his family and spending summers at the lake. Even in his last summer, he was diving in and then enjoying the lake breeze in his chair on the dock watching his growing family splash and play. His patience never wavered, teaching his children to water ski in a boat he never let retire. He relaxed the most during his annual summer trip to York Beach with his family and cherished the memories made there. He had a great many silly names of endearment he was known for utilizing for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren-he will be an intensely missed man. He wasn't just an amazing husband, father, Taid (grandfather in Welsh) and great Taid, he was an incredible human being. His love, wisdom, and strength continue to guide his family, and his memory is a source of comfort and inspiration. Even though he's gone, his spirit lives on in those he touched, and his legacy will always be a part of his loving family.

Red will be lovingly remembered by his adoring wife, Lorraine (Paquette) Williams, his son Robert R. Williams, his two daughters, Deborah A. Williams and Suzzanne M. Willimas all of Poultney, his two grandsons, Nathanial J. Jones of Chippenhook and Nicholas R. Jones of Poultney and Nicholas' fiancé Brianna Ettori of Hampton, NY, his two great grandchildren Maisie Lou Jones and Brantley G. Jones as well as 3 brothers-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Red is reunited with his parents John and Eleanor (Evans) Williams McMorrow, his step father Raymond McMorrow, his mother-in-law Jeanne (Arel) Paquette, his father-in-law Conrad Paquette, his twin sisters Jean (Williams) Mahar and Joan (Williams) Richards, brothers-in-law Francis Mahar and Sam Richards, and sister-in-law Doris (Paquette) DeGeer.

Calling Hours will be at the Roberts-Aubin Funeral Home at 266 Allen Avenue in Poultney, VT on Monday, August 4th from 4:00-6:00PM. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Poultney Public Library or the Poultney Rescue Squad.