Warren W. Wills Sr.

Warren Westbrook Wills, Sr., age 96, passed away at his home in Atlanta on February 9, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Janet W. Wills and by his brothers Victor Wills, Jr. and Donald Wills. He is survived by his sons, Warren W. Wills, Jr. (Margaret) of Atlanta, and Robert A. Wills (Betty Lou) of Bay Minette, Al.; his daughters, Suzanne W. Kelly of Bethesda, Md. and Joanne L. Wills of Arlington, Va.; his brother George K. Wills of Philadelphia, Pa.; eight grandchildren: W. Westbrook Wills, III, Robert Murrah Wills, Elizabeth A. Pearson, Elizabeth W. Strom, Robert A. Wills, Jr., Mary Louise W. Reynolds, J. Taylor Kelly, II and Katherine W. Kelly; and eleven great-grandchildren: Rachel, Grace, Bo, Gracie, Trey, Wills, Mary Brook, Mary Stuart, Eliza, Betty Nell and Mathew. Warren was born June 3, 1916 to Victor W. and Violet C. Wills in Philadelphia. He attended Philadelphia Textile Institute (now Philadelphia U.) and Lowell Textile (now U. Mass Lowell). Despite deferment, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during WW II. At war’s end, he continued his career in the textile fiber industry that would span more than half a century and involve both companies he owned and positions with Allied Chemical, Riverside Mills, Fred Whitaker Co. and Geo. Hepworth & Co. He was a well known and highly respected wool/synthetics fiber authority, a trusted agent, and a successful executive who truly loved every aspect of his profession. Long after his retirement, he was sought for his professional advice. Warren was an excellent athlete, but a single-digit golf handicap always eluded him. Still he loved playing for many years with his “group” at Cherokee Town & Country Club. He served two decades in the Chaplain’s Corps at Northside Hospital, was a long-time member of Peachtree Presbyterian and was a 32nd degree Mason. Right to the last, he lived independently, drove his car and had some humor or a good word that uplifted spirits. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 16 at the Kellett Chapel, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta.