Richard Charles Wills
Richard Charles Wills, 83, passed away on January 14 2017 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. As a teenager he worked on Belmar Party Boat Fleet. He joined the United States Marine Corp in 1952 and served until 1955 with the USS Midway, Admirals Marine Guard. Richard began his Captain career in 1955 in Brielle, New Jersey aboard the “Halcyon”. He moved to Florida in 1970 and ran Sportfishing Charter Boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He moved to Fort Pierce, Florida in 1974 to captain “Cow Creek’ for the Sloan family. Richard was a First Mate/Captain for RV Johnson, Harbor Branch on the weekends running Mrs. Fort Pierce, Blue Seas II party boats. He commercial swordfished in the early 1980’s on his boat “Alladin” and went on to Captain the Gallant Lady Fleet which he oversaw the construction of the 140’ Gallant Lady made in Netherlands by Fedship. Richard worked for the Hubbard family running private motor yachts, Yankee Spirit, Mimi, Hummingbird, SeaMist up until 2012. He moved back to Fort Pierce to live with his son and trusted companion B.B.
He is survived by three sons, Richard C. Wills, Dale (Linda) Wills and James (Love of his Life, Stephanie) Wills; sister, Carol Coenen; stepdaughter, Valerie (Leigh)Thompson; stepson, Eric Tristani and Carlos Tristani; grandchildren, Zachary, Savannah, Wyatt, Garrett, Morgan, Lee IV, Tristan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ruth Hepp Wills; wife, Barbara Wills; companions, Rusty, Mindy Sue and JR.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to
www.freedom
alliance.org which helps Wounded Veterans-“Healing Wounds of War”.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Fort Pierce Inlet on January 21, 2017 at 3:00PM.