Willard W. Wills

Waltham – Mr. Willard W. Wills, of Waltham, died Thursday, October 4, 2018 at Wingate at Weston. He was 79.

Known to family and friends as 'Willie', he was born in Victoria, British Columbia on November 2, 1938, the son of the late Willard and Agatha (O'Hara) Willis. A lifelong resident of Waltham he was a graduate of Waltham High School and after that served with the United States Army.

Willie worked as a manager for Sterling Electronics in Waltham, Watertown and in Woburn and later as a driver for Veterans Taxi. He was a diehard Boston sports fan and especially loved the Red Sox.

The husband of the late Mary C. (Palmer) Wills, he leave his children, Lisa A. Wills of Lincoln, Karen L. Downs (Thomas) of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Wendy E. Panto (Michael) of Brockton and Mark W. Wills (Charlotte) of Boxborough; his grandchildren, Nicole Kilby, Torri Paradise, Jill Brittain, Taylor Godin, Jenna Godin, Thomas Downs, Kevin Downs, Sarah Panto, Michael Panto, Kayla Willls and Mark Wills, Jr.; his great-grandchildren, Logan Kilby, Lexi and Liam Paradise, Robbie and MacKenzie Brittain, Rosalie and Ayla Robles; his sister-in-law, Carole Clark; his niece, Shawna Gongora and his lifelong friend, Frank Vitale.

Willie was also the uncle of the late Michael and Rickey Smith.

Family and friends will honor and remember Willard's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, October 12th from 5 to 8 p.m. and will conclude with his funeral service at 8 p.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org