Obituary: Frank Williams, 97, Co-Founded Forest Hill Nurseries

Frank Williams, 97, of Cranston, passed away peacefully October 20, 2015. He was the beloved husband for seventy years of the late Natalie Williams.

He, with his late brother Anthony, started Forest Hill Nurseries, Inc. Cranston, R.I. in 1941 and served as Vice-president and Secretary. The nursery became the premier landscape business in Rhode Island and southern New England for over 50 years.

At no time during their partnership was there an argument or disagreement among the brothers. Mr. Williams was born in Cranston to the late James and Rose Williams.

He was the beloved father of, Chief Justice Frank Williams (Ret.) with his wife Virginia, Ronald Williams with his wife Beverly and Marilyn Moretti with her partner Michael Storti. Mr. Williams also leaves six grandchildren, Vincent Moretti Jr. and his wife Kathleen, Thomas J. Moretti and his wife Candice, Andrew Moretti and his wife Laura, Michael Williams and his wife Danielle, Kevin Williams and Lori Aiello and her husband Patrick and 12 great grandchildren. Also survived by his sister in-law Anne Swenson and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Anthony Williams, Mary Vitale, Adelaide Williams and Anna Larson.

For 21 years he served with honor and distinction as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Election. He was first appointed by Republican Governor John H. Chafee and reappointed by Democratic Governors Frank Licht, Philip Noel and J. Joseph Garrahy.

All his life, he gave himself to his family and those in need. A devoted parishioner St. Mark’s Church from its founding, he took to heart the Catholic call for charity. Awards for his generosity include the Distinguished Service Award from the John E. Fogarty Foundation for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He was a founding committee member for the Trudeau Center in Warwick, a member of the Rhode Island Agricultural Hall of Fame, and a member of the Cranston High School Hall of Fame. Frank was a WWII Army Veteran.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday October 27, 2015 at 10 a.m. in St. Mark’s Church, Cranston. Burial will Military Honors will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Visitation will be private.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Home & Hospice Care of R.I. 1085 North Main Street Providence, R.I. 02904.