William Charles Willis II
May 08, 1946 to August 19, 2026
The Reverand Bill, 80, was born William Charles Willis II in Ennis, Texas on May 8, 1946, to William and Margaret Willis. He found eternal peace with his wife Carolyn on August 19, 2026 in Houston, while recovering from a major surgery. He is survived by his son Dr. Josh Willis and wife Dr. Dixie Aragaki; by his sister Lyn and husband Art Gentry, and their children – nephewn Michael Gentry and wife Ramee, niece Rev. Lara MacGregor and husband Kirk, and niece Dr.
Amy Gentry and husband Curtis Luciani; by his sister-in-law Connie Humphries and husband Bob Humphries; by his nephews Wayne Taylor, and Greg Taylor and his wife Tina; and by countless friends.
Bill was born in Ennis, but at age 4 the family moved to Dallas where he found a passion for Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14. He graduated from South Oak Cliff High School, where he played trumpet in both the Marching and the Jazz bands. He and Carolyn were married in 1968, and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. In 1969, they moved to Austin where he started law school at the University of Texas. Bill never found his passion for the law, returning to carpentry and joining his father’s millwork business, B & H Wood Products, Inc. in Dallas. In 1974 his son Josh was born. Bill was a loving and enthusiastic father, instilling in Joshua a profound sense of compassion, and a love for telling a good story—tools he would find essential in his dual career as a PhD Climate Scientist and Actor.
In the mid-1990s, Bill was called to the Ministry. A life-long Presbyterian, he loved the Lord, and loved living a life of service. His path through Seminary was not an easy one. After B&H Wood Products closed in 1993, he and Carolyn moved to Austin where he worked tirelessly at a number of different jobs throughout the years in both woodworking and the Church. Although his focus was on finishing Seminary, he never lost his passion for woodworking, where he excelled with his powerful, yet agile hands. During this time, he re-built and expanded the desk for the Speaker of the House in the Texas State Capitol, matching flawlessly the style and woodgrain of the original 1800s piece.
Bill earned his Masters of Divinity from the Austin Presbyterian Seminary and was ordained as a Minister in 2003. During the last few years of Seminary, he served as Pastoral Assistant at First Presbyterian Georgetown Church, where he met friend and mentor, Rev. Mike Roberts. Mike was a formative figure in Bill’s development as a Pastor and loomed large in his ministry even as Bill moved on to a church of his own. In 2004, Bill was called to serve as Pastor of Alabama Presbyterian Church in Choudrant, Louisiana. He and Carolyn moved there and worked side by side to build a lasting ministry, with him leading the church and her building a beloved youth program.
Bill was a giver of care, of hope, of love and of peace. He gave to his family, his friends, his congregation, and anyone else he could reach. He never tired of offering help and never wavered in his devotion to doing so. Even as he became the primary caregiver for his wife Carolyn in the difficult final years of her life, he gave not only to her, but also to those around them who were in need. He was strong-willed and determined to the end. After Carolyn’s passing, he built a new life for himself among the good people of Pines Presbyterian Church, and earned a spot in the sailing crew of the Tall Ship Elissa at the age of 73, all while building a community of caregivers and dear friends through his work with the Stephen Ministry. To know him was to be loved by him and his memory will be treasured. It lives on in the eyes of all those who were fortunate enough to experience his grace.
Bill’s funeral service will be held at Pines Presbyterian Church (12751 Kimberley Ln, Houston, TX 77024) on Saturday, August 29, 10 – 11am.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that mourners consider a donation to the Pines Stephen Ministry, at https://pines.breezechms.com/give/online (click “Designated Donation” and type “Bill Willis Memorial” in the comment line), or Zelle to Pines Presbyterian Church, Inc., email: ptreasurer@pinespc.org, and include “Bill Willis Memorial” in the memo.
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