Richard William Wills

WILLS, Mr. Richard William Portage, MI Richard William Wills, 73, of Portage Michigan lost his seemingly short battle with pancreatic cancer on April 18, 2007. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 4, 1933 and baptized in the Perryville Lutheran Church, he was the third son of John and Lillian Wills. His older brothers John and Donald preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving partner of 53 years, Gordon Charles Boardman. Each affirmed early on that the other was the joy of his life. Gordon is joined in his bereavement by Richard?s dear friend and professional colleague, Cindy Rick Lett of Lawrence, Kansas with whom Richard shared a loving and deep relationship. Also he is survived by several cousins: Helen Donald Roney of Gulfport, Florida, Rosemarie Jim Tenatzer, Patsy Joseph Rocket, Tom Wills, and Betty Jean Hohman of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following his graduation from Perryville High School in Pittsburgh in 1950 he studied acting and Broadway dancing and performed in several musicals in the Pittsburgh Players?one of which starred Shirley Jones. A Korean War veteran he entered the U.S. Army in July 1953 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and served in the Ordnance Training Command. He was Honorably Discharged as Staff Sergeant in July 1955. Returning to Pittsburgh, he studied theatre at Carnegie Tech University and subsequently transferred to Indiana University in Terre Haute majoring in speech, theatre, and history. He graduated in December 1959. In 1960 he moved to Manhattan, New York and pursued a career in acting. He had a major role in the off Broadway production of ?The Corn is Green? by Emlyn Williams in which he received special recognition for his mastery of the Welsh dialect. In the mid 1960s he made a major decision to change careers and pursue the field of speech pathology. He entered Columbia University and completed a significant portion of his course requirements there. He moved to Minnesota and taught high school speech for several years before moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1974, where he completed his Masters of Speech Pathology under the tutelage of Professor Van Riper. He subsequently obtained his Certificate of Clinical Competence. In September of 1976, he joined the staff of Croyden Avenue School as a speech pathologist working with children with severe mental impairment as well as those with autism and other speech difficulties such as stuttering. His was a productive, contributory career there spanning two full decades. He was highly respected in his profession both with the faculty with whom he worked and in the field generally throughout southwest Michigan. He retired in July 1996 but continued in private practice for several years thereafter. A constant Reader he was a lover of history?particularly of the church. Memorable occasions for him were his travels to Europe including several trips to England and France and culminating in a tour of Italy in 1999. He began the study of piano with pianist Dan Koshelnyk in 2003. When pressed he could sing very beautifully. He had a naturally inquisitive mind and remained much interested in current events and anguished deeply over the present war. He joined St Luke?s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo in 2004 and was confirmed there by Father Mark Rutenbar and Bishop Bob Gepert. He was active in the church doing volunteer work at the St. Luke?s Thrift Store and served on the Katrina Committee and worked to the present in the Partner?s Program. He attended a weekly Bible class on Sunday evenings and was often asked to be Prayer Chaplain for the committees on which he served. If a finer more beautiful person than Richard still walks this planet, the writer of this narrative will require validation. A child of Christ and imbued with the gift of the Holy Spirit, he has touched many lives with healing and love. ?For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling and I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living.? Psalm 116: 8-9. Services will be held 11 o?clock Tuesday at the St. Luke?s Episcopal Church, 247 West Lovell St. with Mother Marlene Jacob and Father Jim Croom presiding joined also by Pastor Jim Dyke with whom Gordon and Richard have a special loving relationship. The service will offer communion for those wishing it and a meal will follow. There will be no visitation. A church service and burial will also be held at Central Lutheran Church three miles west of Fairfax, Minnesota at a later date. Officiating will be Reverend Roger Allmendinger. Richard will be laid to rest in nearby Hauge Cemetery?his marker stone already engraved with the words: ?Christ-chosen: Gordon-loved?. Memorial contributions can be directed to the St. Luke?s Episcopal Church, Partners Outreach.