Ronald L. Williams

Ronald L. (Bud) Williams, 87, Twin Falls Ronald L. (Bud) Williams of Twin Falls, who co-founded today’s WinCo Foods and owned and operated Williams Market grocery stores in Twin Falls, Filer and Ketchum, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at his home with family. He was 87. He died of acute myeloid leukemia. Bud was the second of eight children, two who died young, to Homer and Lois Williams and was born July 1, 1928, in Idaho Falls. He grew up on a family farm outside of Idaho Falls and began work at the age of 12 in a grocery store. He loved fishing and hunting, and as a youth he played basketball. Golf became a life-long passion after caddying on weekends. He loved to hunt and talked about being proud as a young man when bringing home rabbits and birds. Bud graduated from Ammon High School while working at Safeway. He attended college in Rexburg. He was soon drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Washington, D.C. After the war, he returned to Safeway and rose quickly through the management ranks. He was named the company’s youngest manager at 25. He was transferred to the Safeway in downtown Boise, across the street and to the north of the Capitol building. He continued with Safeway, tasked with turning around underperforming stores. He married Charlotte Johnson and had two sons, Ronald and Thomas Williams. Charlotte died of lupus and he moved with his sons to Caldwell. Widowed at 35, he met and fell in love with Maureen K. Gould, who also had two sons, Mark and Timothy Williams. Together they had their fifth son, Christopher, and only daughter, Joanna Williams Alford. Bud and Maureen were married on June 7, 1964, in Caldwell and celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary in June. Soon after marriage, he decided to go into business for himself and in 1967 founded a discount grocery store, Waremart, with brother-in-law Ralph Ward. It was an innovative, no-frills, warehouse-style, grocery, box store that focused on low prices. The business quickly grew to 19 stores. Bud worked diligently and relished mentoring and training his new, young managers, eventually to include his own sons. Ward purchased Bud’s stake in the company and, over time, Waremart was renamed and reorganized in 1985 as WinCo Foods. In 1974, Bud moved his family to Twin Falls and began his own family-owned and operated grocery story, Williams Market. He eventually purchased stores in Filer and Ketchum. While operating as an independent grocer, and doing business with Associated Foods, he was elected to, and served on the Board of Directors. The entire family worked in the stores, and upon retirement he passed the stores to sons Mark and Christopher. Bud enjoyed all life had to offer. He took great delight in teaching and sharing golf, fishing, skiing, and water skiing with the entire family at a McCall vacation condo on Payette Lake purchased in 1972. He was a zealous spectator of all sports, live and televised, grandkids to professional. His college sports allegiance was divided between the U of I Vandals and BSU Broncos. He was an active College of Southern Idaho basketball booster. Jokes were always at the ready. A devoted and loyal family man, he was straightforward and steadfast in his beliefs. Bud expected the best from his kids and was very forgiving. Second chances were fine, but rarely a third. Bud was always grateful for the people and basics of life. He never complained or spoke ill of others. Even in the end, he would give a thumbs up or “okay” sign when asked how he was feeling. He was an accomplished traveler, happily, sometimes reluctantly, accompanying Maureen on her world exploits. Cars and boats were a source of enjoyment, too especially when dragging a kid behind it on skis or tubes. He was active in his faith and a member of the Twin Falls Reformed Church, and supported the church’s mission program. Bud was a longtime and dedicated member of the Rotary Club and American Legion. He earned the Rotary Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellow award for his significant efforts. He was named retailer of the year in 1998 by the Idaho Retailers Association. He also served on the Magic Valley Regional Medical Center Foundation board and was president in 2002. He was preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Williams Ward, grandson, Tyler Williams in 2010 and son, Thomas on Dec. 18, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Maureen; brothers Lynn (Nedra) of Rexburg, John and (Teri) of Surprise, Ariz.; sisters Fran (Jim) Dresen of Idaho Falls, and Leslie (Dave) Shelton of Lehi, Utah; sons Ronald (Peggy) of Nampa, Mark (Joan) of Boise, Timothy (Kathy Stewart) of Twin Falls, Christopher (Jamie Gardenswartz) of Hailey; and daughter, Joanna (Nathan) Alford of Lewiston. Other survivors are daughter-in-law Tammy Williams of Twin Falls; granddaughters Rebecca (Joey) Burke, Abigail, Heather Mitchell, Siobhan, Jordan, Maggie, Avery and Scout; grandsons Jake (Carrie) March, and Damien (Lynsey), Joshua, Samuel, Nick, Zach and Charlie; four great-grandchildren; and many adored nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be 2 p.m., Saturday at the Twin Falls Reformed Church with a reception immediately following. Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Twin Falls Reformed Church Missions.