I just learned that GSR Lifetime Member, Richard Williard (#214), of Winston-Salem, NC, succumbed to complications arising from Amyloidosis and passed away this morning (1/16/08) at 11:00 am. Pat was with him in the hospital at the time and says he just went to sleep and did not wake up.
As many of you know, he had been battling this disease (the same thing that took the life of Chip Miller, Corvettes at Carlisle founder, in 2004) for several months. Over the last few months Richard had continually been getting weaker and was simply unable to recover. While never fully prepared for this, he and Pat knew of the prognosis for nearly a year and were as best prepared as a loving couple could possibly be.
Many in the GSR will remember Richard as he and Pat attended the NCM Gathering and Corvettes at Carlisle every year without fail. Last year's Carlisle event was the first they had missed in a long time due to his ailing condition. Richard loved Corvettes (especially the Grand Sport), the National Corvette Museum, and most of all, Corvette people.
As FYI, the wake will be on Friday from 6-8 pm. The funeral will be on Saturday morning. Arrangements have been made through:
Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home
3315 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: 336.765.8181
A few of us recently went together and bought Richard a blue satin GS jacket to help cheer him up. I know he very much appreciated that. Of course, the GSR will send a card and flowers, too.
Condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home's web site at
http://hayworth-mill...id=61&form_id=6
Your thoughts and prayers for Pat and their family would be deeply appreciated at this time.
