Obituary of Harry Wills

Harry A Wills sailed off into the sunset Monday, March 12th. Harry was blessed with a very active almost 94 years right up until he cast off for another journey. His pleasures during all but the past few years included skiing, golfing, horseback riding, boating, coaching, building his business and maintaining his home in Bedford. Harry is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Wills Cook and her husband John Tandy Cook who live in Lynchburg and his sons David Plowden Wills, his wife Nancy Crawford Wills and Harry Allen Wills, Jr. and his wife Robin Cholewa Wills, all from Va Beach. The lineage of Captain Harry is also carried on in his granddaughters, Marcella Elizabeth Cook, Jean Reynolds Cook and Mary Wills Cook.all of whom live in Lynchburg. In addition to his immediate family, Harry's two "adopted sons", Tim Murphy and Watts Keylong time denizens of the Harry BBall Cave , will be carrying Harryisms, memories and life experiences resulting from decades of their being his closest friends. Harry was born a Yankee in Babylon NY where his energy and enthusiasm earned him an Eagle Scout Badge at age 16. 4 of his teenage summers were spent as a ranch hand at a dude ranch in Wyoming owned by Avril Harriman, his father's employer. Harry, and his Springer spaniel Buddy, ended his WWII career as major in the Army Air Force in which he was a flight instructor..and married to Marcella Plowden of Valdosta, GA.a Georgia peach confident of her ability to amend his wayward Yankee manners. In 1954, Harry and his bride move to Bedford Va where he began his career as President of Photo Card Masters, located on Depot Street in Bedford. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Harry was also one of the founders of the Bedford Hunt Club where he served as Master of the Hounds. He also began his B Ball coaching career with a 6 year stint directing the Youth League Bedford Bees to several championships. Disappointed that he couldn't find a good hotdog in Bedford, Harry opened The Bedford Weiner stand, home of world famous Harry O Burger and other wiener stand delicacies. During this time and seeking to leverage his notoriety at the Bedford Wiener stand, Harry made an unsuccessful bid for Bedford's Mayor In 1982, in addition to his duties as President of PCM, Harry took on a summer job as dock master at Bernard's Landing. During his 20 plus years at Bernard's, he not only assisted countless guests and Bernard's homeowners with their boat challenges, he also wrote and had published a tell-all book about the history of Bernard's Landing. An avid sailor, Capitan Harry took countless friends and family on over 16 bareboat sailing charters throughout the British Virgin Islands. In addition to golf, tennis and horseback riding, Harry especially loved skiing, which he enjoyed until about 4 years ago. Grave side services will be held at 3PM Wednesday March 14th at Bedford's Greenwood Cemetery. A celebration of Harry's life will be held immediately following the services at the Bedford Station. The family will receive friends on Tuesday March 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the home of his daughter Elizabeth Cook, 109 Meredith Place. Arrangements are by Updike Funeral Home and Cremation Service.