Rowena Campbell Williams

October 11, 1931 – February 1, 2025

Rowena Adele Campbell Williams, 93, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025, in Fresno, California. Born in Merced, CA, on October 11, 1931, Rowena was the only child of Rene and Grace Campbell. She grew up in the rural town of Le Grand, CA, where her father tended the almond orchards, and where she developed a deep connection to nature and a love for the quiet country life. It was in Le Grand that she forged a lifelong friendship with Donna (Gillette) Hall.

Rowena graduated from Le Grand High School and later earned a degree in Business from Fresno State College. It was at Fresno State that she met her future husband, Robert Wesley Williams Jr. They became engaged, planning to marry in August 1953, right after Robert completed his basic training in the Air Force. Though separated during his service, the couple wrote daily letters, which only deepened their connection. Once married, they moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Robert served as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force. After his service, the couple returned to California and began their family.

Rowena devoted herself to raising their three children. After her youngest child started kindergarten, Rowena returned to the workforce as a Teacher’s Instructional Aide at Gibson Elementary and Hoover High School in Fresno.

Outside of work, Rowena was a dedicated homemaker. She had a passion for gardening, cultivating a large vegetable garden, fruit, and citrus trees. Her kitchen was often filled with the delicious, home-cooked meals she lovingly prepared for her family. A gifted seamstress, Rowena sewed frequently, creating outfits for her children and later discovering her passion for quilting. She made personalized quilts for each of her children and grandchildren, leaving them with a tangible piece of her love. In her later years, she enjoyed making newborn quilts with her church’s quilting group.

Rowena was a woman of deep faith who loved to read, travel, and spend time in the mountains. She was also known for her quiet strength, unwavering devotion to her family, and the sense of joy she took in life’s simple pleasures. Though she spent her adult years in Fresno, she always fondly said, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl,” a testament to her enduring love for her rural roots.

Rowena is preceded in death by her parents, Rene and Grace Campbell. She is survived by her devoted husband of 71 years, Robert Wesley Williams Jr., and their children, Randall Williams and his wife Cheryl Gomes, Roberta Zanutto and her husband Dan, and Roxanne Burke and her husband Michael. Rowena was a proud grandmother to Ryan Williams (and his children, Harper and Carys) and Rhett Williams; Derek Zanutto (and his children, William, Charlotte, and James) and Christa Zanutto (and her children, Caleb and David); Cypress and Annelise Green, and Tatum Burke.

A memorial service celebrating Rowena’s life will be held at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, 5555 N. Fresno Street in Fresno, CA on March 22, 2025 from 12 - 2 p.m.