William Arthur Willis passed away November 1, 2024, in Hudson, NH. He was born on June 19, 1940 in Los Angeles, CA to Fred D. Willis and Vada Atkinson Willis.
Bill, as he was known, was a no-nonsense character. So this will be a no-nonsense obituary. Bill was a contradiction. A relic living in the modern age. A rough-edged character with a soft heart. As every person does, he had strengths, and he had flaws. When we talk about loved ones who have passed, leaving out the imperfections would be a disservice to their children and to those who loved them, for imperfections are what mold and shape us most intensely. The irritating grain of sand in an oyster becomes a beautiful pearl. The Kintsugi tradition of mending broken pottery results in highly prized works of Japanese art.
Prone to act or speak on instinct, not trying to hide emotions or fake interest in prolonging a conversation, Bill would often speak with no filter, dishing out a good, hard dose of reality. Disconcerting, yes, but sometimes unvarnished truth is necessary in a culture that celebrates deceitfulness and rewards dishonesty. For better or worse, the lack of a filter at times brought surprisingly touching moments – like the time he found his grandson Christian, five or six years old at the time, upset about some childhood transgression. Without hesitating, Bill knelt on the floor at Christian’s level and proceeded to comfort him.
Obstinate, stubborn – a few words to describe Bill, but those traits are what taught his children to never settle for less than what they believe they deserve. Headstrong people may not be the most accommodating in daily life, but when bad things happen, those are the people you want by your side. Through thick or thin, Bill was always there with support for those who came to him, helping them overcome the latest obstacle life threw at them.
Although seemingly insensitive and aloof, Bill had an uncanny ability to recognize character traits and point them out. To the embarrassment of his family, he had a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time but, also, at times, he would say something meaningful and unforgettable. Benjamin, his grandson, has a remarkably positive and easygoing approach to life. In the last conversation with his son, Bill said, “Tell Benjamin to keep smiling.”
For a long time, Bill had wanted to learn how to fly. Time, obligations, cost, changing priorities, health issues – these all kept him from realizing that dream. But he is flying now.
Bill was married for 45 years to his beloved wife Carolyn Sue Michael Willis who passed November 2012. He had five siblings, who have all passed: Edward Willis, Dennis Willis, Karen Willis, Fred Willis, and James Willis. He is survived by his son, William Micheal Willis of Gilford, NH and daughter Mary Carolyn Willis of Bakersfield, CA and seven grandchildren: Lexie Fields, Christian Willis, Allison Fields, Grace Ooi, Anne Willis, Liam Willis, and Benjamin Willis.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 6th from 5 - 7pm at The Sanctuary, 123 Derry Road, Hudson. A calling hour will be held on Tuesday, November 19th from 9 – 10am at the Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 12626 Woods Avenue, Norwalk, CA. A memorial service will be held from 10 – 11:15am. The burial will follow at 1:30pm in the Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA. For all services, flowers are accepted or make a donation to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan.org), or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF.org)