June 16, 1926 - June 13, 2018
W. A. Wills, Jr. was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on June 16, 1926 to W. A. Wills, Sr. and Jennette Robinson Wills. He was raised in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated from Centennial High School in 1944. After high school W. A. enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II on a PT boat in the Philippines. After the war, W. A. attended The University of Colorado where he received a degree in Business.
W. A. started his career working for his father in the family Ford dealership in Pueblo. He started a family and in 1954 moved the family to Council Bluffs, Iowa where along with his longtime friend Gene Wilcoxson started the Pontiac Dealership there.
In 1956, W. A. returned to Colorado Springs and opened Silver State Cadillac. During those years he was active as an officer in both the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association. W. A. was an avid golfer and a life-time member of the Broadmoor Golf Club and The El Paso Club.
Through his life he was an active entrepreneur. He loved flying as a pilot and brought his skills to open the Piper airplane dealership and FBO in Colorado Springs. Later in life he headed an insurance underwriting corporation working with automobile dealers nationwide.
W. A. traveled extensively with his wife Eileen and enjoyed spending time in Taos.
W. A. is survived by his wife Eileen; daughters Marne Wills-Cuellar (Carlos) of Lakewood, Colorado and Ann Wills DVM of Weatherford, Texas; stepchildren Cathy Holmes (Brad) of Lone Tree, Colorado, Patti Nelson of Vail, Colorado and Jeff Weber (Jennifer) of Boulder, Colorado; grandchildren Allison Cuellar, David Cuellar, Cooper Anderson (Katie), Emily Stricker (Phil), Spencer Holmes (Natalie), Elli Weber, Amie Weber and Max Weber; great-grandchildren Crosby Stricker and Nixy Anderson.
W.A. was preceded in death by his daughter Cathy Wills; his parents; and his brothers Lee R. Wills and Charles Wills.
A celebration of Life will be held June 30th at 5 pm at the family home in Colorado Springs. Please come in casual attire.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his honor to National Mill Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 88468 Colorado Springs, CO. 80908.
