IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Richard M.
Willis
January 8, 1938 – July 31, 2016
Obituary
Listen to Obituary
Richard Montgomery Willis, 78, of Severna Park, died suddenly Sunday morning, July 31, 2016.
Born in Southern Rhodesia (Africa), Dick grew up in Painesville, Ohio. A graduate from Denison University, he married Barbara Hottel (of Winchester, Massachusetts), and went on to graduate from Harvard Business School, and, much later, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He spent the last 40+ years loving, serving, and investing his life in the people and communities of Arnold, Severna Park, and the State of Maryland as a whole. Dick coached baseball teams, led neighborhood organizations, and supported his wife, Barbie, a teacher at The Carter School of Dance.
After his son, Charley, was murdered Dick led Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, achieving legislative change and being recognized by the Governor for his work on all our behalf.
As a member and Elder at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dick led a team to bring refugees to settle in Severna Park, led missions teams to Jamaica to rebuild storm-damaged orphanages and, after Hurricane Katrina, travelled to New Orleans to renovate and rebuild homes there. Dick taught teen Sunday School and Confirmation classes, and directed Woods' Youth Ministry department for a time. For more than 30 years he led thousands of area teens and college students to strengthen and live out their Christian faith by travelling to needy communities and building homes with Habitat for Humanity. Dick was instrumental in bringing Sunrise Assisted Living to Severna Park, and helped to establish the Severna Park Community Center.
He leaves behind his wife, Barbara, still of Severna Park, a son, Richard, Jr, and daughter-in-law, Lenore, of Roanoke, Virginia, a son, Benjamin, and daughter-in-law, Amy, of Milford, Pennsylvania, and grandchildren Molly and Clayton of Roanoke, and Noah, Eden, and Caleb of Milford.
Dick was predeceased by his youngest son, Charles, in 1993.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 10:00 am at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park, MD 21146. Memorial gifts may be sent to Woods Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park, MD 21146, and will be used to support seminary students and youth mission work with Habitat for Humanity.
His legacy was "OUTSTANDING".
Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com
Born in Southern Rhodesia (Africa), Dick grew up in Painesville, Ohio. A graduate from Denison University, he married Barbara Hottel (of Winchester, Massachusetts), and went on to graduate from Harvard Business School, and, much later, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He spent the last 40+ years loving, serving, and investing his life in the people and communities of Arnold, Severna Park, and the State of Maryland as a whole. Dick coached baseball teams, led neighborhood organizations, and supported his wife, Barbie, a teacher at The Carter School of Dance.
After his son, Charley, was murdered Dick led Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, achieving legislative change and being recognized by the Governor for his work on all our behalf.
As a member and Elder at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dick led a team to bring refugees to settle in Severna Park, led missions teams to Jamaica to rebuild storm-damaged orphanages and, after Hurricane Katrina, travelled to New Orleans to renovate and rebuild homes there. Dick taught teen Sunday School and Confirmation classes, and directed Woods' Youth Ministry department for a time. For more than 30 years he led thousands of area teens and college students to strengthen and live out their Christian faith by travelling to needy communities and building homes with Habitat for Humanity. Dick was instrumental in bringing Sunrise Assisted Living to Severna Park, and helped to establish the Severna Park Community Center.
He leaves behind his wife, Barbara, still of Severna Park, a son, Richard, Jr, and daughter-in-law, Lenore, of Roanoke, Virginia, a son, Benjamin, and daughter-in-law, Amy, of Milford, Pennsylvania, and grandchildren Molly and Clayton of Roanoke, and Noah, Eden, and Caleb of Milford.
Dick was predeceased by his youngest son, Charles, in 1993.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 10:00 am at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park, MD 21146. Memorial gifts may be sent to Woods Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park, MD 21146, and will be used to support seminary students and youth mission work with Habitat for Humanity.
His legacy was "OUTSTANDING".
Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard M. Willis, please visit our flower store.
Richard M. Willis's Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors