Richard E. Wills Sr.

Richard Eugene Wills, Sr. was born November 28, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the only child of Inez McCall (Mrs. Wills) and William Dorsey. Richard departed this life January 15, 2015, a Montgomery General Hospital after a lengthy illness. Richard was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools, and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1946. He started his career at the U.S. Post Office in the early 1950's, retiring after 30 years of service. While there he was active in the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 305. He married his childhood sweetheart, the late Adelaine Estelle Denton, in Baltimore on Christmas Eve, 1949. The couple settled in the Evergreen neighborhood in West Baltimore, where they raised their four children. Richard was a long-time member of Emmanuel Christian Community Church, where he served for many years on the Board of Trustees and taught Sunday School. His long life of community service also included leading the church-sponsored Boy Scout Troop, volunteering with the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP, presiding over the Evergreen Neighborhood Improvement Association, serving on the board of the Druid Hill YMCA, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. After retiring from the Post Office, Richard was also active in several local political campaigns, including those of former Maryland Representative Larry Young, the late City Councilwoman Agnes Welch, and former U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume. His interest in politics afforded him the opportunity to meet and shake hands with former President Bill Clinton and former South African President Nelson Mandela. For a short time, Richard left his beloved Baltimore to live in Newport News, Virginia, where he lived with his then-wife, Mildred McDuffie. There, he served n the board of the local chapter of AARP, volunteered with the NAACP, and was an active member of First Baptist Church Denbigh. Due to declining health, Richard returned to the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, to be closer to his family, where he remained. He was a frequent visitor to Redland Baptist Church Richard enjoyed photography, bowling, swimming, and fine dining. He particularly enjoyed traveling, earning the nickname "Marco Polo" by his children. Favorite destinations included Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Canada. Richard is survived by his four children, Richard E. Wills Jr., Karen Wills-Henry, Cheryl Day, and Carla Wills; six grandchildren, Janelle Waters, Marcus Day, Erika Williams, Danielle Day, Sterling Henry III, and Derrick Day; one great-grandchild, Eva Waters; and a host of family and friends.

Tributes

Richard E. Wills Sr.

November 28, 1927 - January 15, 2015