Willie Earl Putilla

If you knew Willie Earl Putilla, then you knew that life with him came with equal parts truth, trouble, and tenderness. He was a man who loved hard, laughed louder, and didn’t mince words—unless he was trying to make you laugh, which he usually succeeded in doing.

Born February 24, 1966, in Dallas, Texas to Elizabeth Virginia Putilla (nee Walker) and Willie Lee Putilla, Willie was raised in the Wheatland Terrace neighborhood—a place that shaped him, sharpened him, and gave him that unmistakable Oak Cliff edge. And no matter where life took him, he made sure you knew: “I’m still from Oak Cliff.”

He attended David W. Carter High School where he proudly cherished being a Carter Cowboy. Willie was a true athlete—playing football and running track like his life depended on it. If you bring it up today, someone in the room will still say, “Man, that boy could run.”

At just 14 years old, he laid eyes on the love of his life, Veronica Elaine (Scott) Putilla, and that was it. Soulmates from the start. Their bond was a love story written in real life—rooted in faith, loyalty, and quiet devotion. They married in April 1984 and together they raised two daughters, Constance and Caiyla, and built a home full of laughter, love, and just the right amount of chaos. When Veronica passed in 2014, Willie carried her memory forward every single day, never letting her legacy fade.

Willie accepted Christ at a young age and later answered the call to ministry, becoming the Pastor of Vision of Faith Community Church. His sermons were never just sermons—they were part joke, part truth, and all heart. He had a way of pulling you in, even when you swore you weren’t going to say "Amen." He didn’t try to be perfect—he tried to be real. And that’s what made his ministry powerful.

In his later years, he welcomed Deamber Ford into his heart as a daughter, and with her came two of his biggest blessings: his grandchildren Aria and Israel. Papa Willie had a new title, and he wore it like a crown. Those babies lit up his world—and he made sure they knew just how special they were.

And in true Willie fashion, he picked one of the most unexpected second careers: pest control. Working with Orkin Pest Control, he brought that same energy to every house he walked into. He didn’t just kill bugs—he told stories, made friends, and turned coworkers into family. It was never just a job. It was another place to serve, laugh, and leave his mark.

Willie was so many things—a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, brother, uncle, friend, mentor, athlete, and storyteller. He could preach a whole sermon and still make you holler laughing before the benediction. He believed in showing up for people, even when they didn’t deserve it. He believed in family, loyalty, and second chances. He believed in keeping it real.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Veronica, his mother Elizabeth, and other cherished family members. He leaves behind his daughters Constance, Caiyla, and Deamber, his grandchildren Aria and Israel. His father Willie L. Putilla, 3 sisters (Carolyn Rose, Sandra Jones, & Sheila Cope), 3 brothers (Ronnie Putilla, Michael Putilla, & Jasper Putilla) and their respective spouses/partners. A host of nieces and nephews (Uncle Willie was everyone’s favorite), his extended family, church family, Orkin family, and so many friends who were better for knowing him.

We’ll miss his voice, his wisdom, his stubbornness, and that laugh that came from his soul. But most of all, we’ll miss the way he loved—with everything he had.

And if you listen closely, you’ll still hear him say:

> “Y’all are some bad kids. I went and saw Momma first, ‘cause I was her favorite. Don’t argue with me—I’m gone.”

Rest easy, Big Will. You did what you came here to do