R. Wills

R. J. Wills, 77, of Little Rock, passed away on Monday, March 12, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Mary Janelle Kemp Wills, whom he married in 1949, and one daughter, Dr. Pamela Janelle Wills. RJ was extremely proud of Pam, who has her own practice, The Arkansas Center for Women's Health. RJ was a longtime banker, community activist and educator. He understood the value of a college education and worked tirelessly to make education accessible to others.
Since 2003, RJ had served on the Pulaski Technical College Foundation Board of Directors, including the past two and a half years as chairman. Under his leadership, the foundation launched its first capital campaign, the Campus Center and Library Expansion Building Campaign, which raised nearly $4 million toward the costs of renovating and expanding the Ottenheimer Library and building the 93,000-square-foot Campus Center.
In November 2006, the foundation honored RJ at a fundraiser for the college. As part of the tribute, North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays proclaimed Nov. 3, 2006 as "R.J. Wills Day," and the college named the 235-seat lecture hall on the second floor of the Campus Center in his honor.
RJ learned the value of hard work and perseverance at an early age. Born in 1929 in Humphrey, Arkansas, RJ was raised by his mother, Nettie Ables Wills Notting. He graduated from Little Rock Central High in 1947 and started his 35-year career at Worthen Bank, now Bank of America. His climb up the corporate ladder began in the transit department. He became a bookkeeper, a teller, and then worked in the Installment Loan Department before eventually becoming senior vice president and chief loan officer. He joined A. Tenenbaum Company as chief financial officer in 1982. Even though he retired in 2004, he continued to serve as secretary for the Tenenbaum board.
Twice during his career, RJ was called away for military duty. During World War II he served his country as a B-29 crew chief, and during the Korean War, he was part of the finance disbursement unit in the U.S. Army.
Later, RJ came to understand the challenges of working full-time while going to college. Using the GI Bill, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Economics from Little Rock University, where he attended night school for 10 years to reach his goal of obtaining a degree. Later, he graduated from the School of Consumer Banking McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. After graduation, he taught for 10 years at the American Institute of Banking.
Aside from education, RJ contributed his time and talents to many community organizations. He was a founding member of St. James United Methodist Church and was a member of the Baptist Health Foundation Board and Good Shepherd Board of Directors. He was a member of the Rotary Club, Little Rock Junior Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock and North Little Rock Chambers of Commerce and Central Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Accountants.
RJ will be terribly missed by the many people for whom he worked so generously to improve quality of life. He was successful in business and successful in life, loved by his family, and so greatly admired and appreciated by the people whose lives he touched.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), Little Rock. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock, officiated by Dr. Fred Haustein. Burial will be private. Pallbearers will be Tim McGrath, Josh Shemper, Herb Rule, Steve Bowman, Donnie Cook and John Dominick. Honorary pallbearers will be the Agape Sunday School Class.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. James United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or to the Humane Society of Pulaski County in honor of Niki Wills. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home (501)224-2200.