Donald “Don” H. Wills

Donald Harold Wills passed away on Jan. 23, in Dallas at the age of 90 surrounded by family. 

Wills was born on Aug. 19, 1935, in Burkburnett, TX, and the family eventually settled in Wichita Falls, TX. He went on to play tennis at the University of Tulsa and earned a petroleum engineering degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1958.

Wills attended SMU Law School, where he met his future wife, Sue Barnes, on the steps of the student center talking with everyone. After a quick introduction from a friend, Wills swept her off her feet, and they married on Aug. 20, 1960 — which he would consider his greatest achievement. Their romance lasted 65 years.

After graduating from law school, Wills and Sue settled in Wichita Falls, where Wills became involved in a family business and began a career in banking. He served as senior vice president at City National Bank and was a partner in Wills Oil Company. He also served on the boards of First Wichita National Bank, Southwest National Bank, American National Bank (all in Wichita Falls), and Snyder National Bank in Snyder, TX.

While in Wichita Falls, Wills served on boards and the city council. He was known for his generosity and quick wit, and he was kind to everyone he met — unless it was on a tennis court, where he and Sue earned multiple mixed doubles titles in Wichita Falls.

In the mid-1980s, Wills and Sue moved to Dallas, where he became president of the Ginger Murchison Foundation. An advocate for education, he served as a Regent of Baylor University and a trustee of Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas. He invested his time, talent and treasure in the Dallas community, leading and volunteering in many capacities, as he had in Wichita Falls.

Wills served as a deacon of First Baptist Church Wichita Falls and Park Cities Baptist Church. At PCBC, he and Sue taught the Nearly Wed Seminar for 16 years. The highlight of their week was the opportunity to share their wonderful marriage experience with engaged young couples.

Family was always a priority to Wills. He and Sue sat in many bleachers supporting his pride and joy — his four kids, David Wills, Kathy Wright, Kay Wyma and Charles Wills and their spouses, and 15 grandchildren. The guiding principles for Wills and Sue were embodied in one of their favorite songs, “May all who come behind us find us faithful.”