William A."Bill" Wills

William A. “Bill” Wills, 70, of Wapakoneta, died 1:32 a.m., Sat. Aug. 6, 2011, at his residence. He was born Aug. 14, 1940, in Wapakoneta, the son of James “Pete” & Bessie (Darst) Wills, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 2, 1961, he married Charlotte M. Hemmert, and she survives. Other survivors include, 4 sons, Michael (Linda) Wills, Huntsville, AL, Kevin (Laura) Wills, Danville, OH, David (Karrie) Wills, Maumee, OH, Douglas Wills, Wapakoneta, 5 grandchildren, Ashley, Abby, Addison, Garren, & Katie Wills, 2 step-grandchildren, Kyla & Kelby Hammond, 2 brothers, James “Jim” (Marlene) Wills, Wapakoneta, Richard Wills, Portland, TX 3 sisters, Betty Hemmert, Wapakoneta, Dorothy (Ned) Hobler, Wapakoneta, Catherine Harris, Johnston, RI. Sister-in-law, Barbara (Robert) Krebs, Botkins, OH. He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Wills, and 3 sisters, Phyllis Walker, Mary Wolfe, & Janet Clayton. Bill retired in 2000 as a production supervisor at the Dana Corp., Lima. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with the City of Wapakoneta. He was a 7 year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and served in Viet Nam from 1966 to 1967. A member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, he was also a member of the K of C, Council #1272, both of Wapakoneta. He was a life member of the Wapakoneta V.F.W., Post #8445, and a life member of the D.A.V., Auglaize Co. Chapter #73. He was a proud member of the V.F.W. Honor Guard. An avid golfer, he enjoyed traveling and was a fan of Notre Dame, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds, and University of Dayton basketball. Bill would say his 2 favorite teams were Notre Dame and any team playing Ohio State. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wed. Aug. 10, 2011, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wapakoneta, Rev. Matthew Lee officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta, where military rites will be conducted by the Wapakoneta V.F.W. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 6-8 p.m., Tues, and 9-9:45 a.m., Wed. at the Long & Folk Chapel of Bayliff & Eley Funeral Home, 13 S. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta. (Please use street address, thanks.) Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Joseph Catholic Church Renovation Fund or St. Rita’s Hospice.

William A."Bill" Wills

August 6, 2011