Wayne Willis

William Wayne Willis was born in Corpus Christi on July 9, 1950. He grew up in the Kerrville/San Antonio area. His senior year at Tivy High, he was named the Librarian Sweetheart. He attended Howard Payne University where he received a Bachelor of Science in composite social studies with a secondary teaching degree in 1972. Wayne met Dian Tyler in 1970 at Howard Payne. They married May 20, 1972. In 1980, Tyler Wayne Willis was born followed by his brother Teddy Robert Willis in 1985. Wayne spent 3 years in the Army from 1972 to 1975. He was trained as a social worker at Fort Sam Houston, stationed at Fort Walters and then at Fort Hood. He was a Specialist 5 when he received an honorable discharge with a National Defense Service Medal. He and Dian moved to Abilene. Wayne was employed by MHMR and then at Tyler Cleaners with his brother-in-law Bob Tyler. He was very involved with his sons and Boy Scouts of America. Both he and Teddy were Life Scouts, and his son Tyler was an Eagle Scout. Wayne attended TimberTag (Scoutmaster training) and taught outdoor cooking. He was invited to the national training camp at Philmont, NM. He taught 3rd grade Sunday School for many years at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by parents Jean and Ted Wilhelm. He is survived by wife Dian, sons Tyler of Conroe and Teddy, brother Donnie of San Antonio, sister Deborah Deel and husband Michael of San Antonio, brother-in-law Bob Tyler and wife Lyn, mother-in-law Bettye Tyler, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Wayne loved the Lord, his family, history, reading, his two Dachshunds, and Fox News. He was 64 when he died on December 10, 2014. Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 13, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, with Dr. Jeff Reid and Bro. Jack Ridlehoover officiating. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Boy Scouts or your church.