Robert "Bob" Wills

Bob Wills passed away August 9, 2023, at Homewood Health Campus. He was 93 years old. He was born August 28, 1929, in Boone County, Indiana, south of Lebanon. He was the son of Earl J. and Clara (Anderson) Wills. Bob graduated from Lebanon High School in 1947. He was an excellent baseball player. After graduation he played with the Lebanon Merchants and Hicks Bus Body. He was scouted by several major league baseball teams and was offered the opportunity to try out for the St. Louis Browns who are now the Baltimore Orioles. He turned it down because he felt his dad needed him to help on the farm. He continued his love of baseball by watching the Chicago Cubs. Bob farmed and lived all his life in Boone County. Bob proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1951 until 1953. He was part of the 79th AAA Gun Battery where they fired the 120 mm Stratosphere gun. After his honorable discharge, he met the love of his life, Virginia Scott, at the Boone Grain and Seed Elevator. They were married on May 27, 1955 at the Dover Christian Church. Together, they raised a daughter and son. Bob stayed active in both children’s activities. He was vice president of the Western Boone Band Boosters for three years. Their house was always open for any of their children’s friends. Many times, Virginia would come home from work not knowing if she would have four, six, or more for supper. She and Bob both loved it! Bob enjoyed life! He enjoyed fishing trips to Wisconsin where they met wonderful lifelong friends. He loved to play the guitar and sing. He sang with local country bands and at church with his sister, Doris Smith, who played the keyboard. Bob loved to square dance in his younger years. His favorite card games were Euchre and Canasta. He also enjoyed a very aggregating game called Wahoo and doing word search puzzles. Bob was an active member of Pleasant View Church until his health began to decline. He was also a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Eagles. Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia of Thorntown; daughter, Kay (Mike) Masten of Lebanon; son, John Wills and girlfriend, Jeanette Redman of Thorntown; granddaughter, Elizabeth Masten of McLean, Virginia; sister, Helen (Jahn) Lawson of Clearwater, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by stepmother, Elvah (Gentry) Wills; sister, Doris Smith; and infant grandson, William Robert Masten. Visitation is planned from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Funeral Services with military rites will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, at the funeral home with Pastor JR Rouse, officiating. Services will be live-streamed and can be viewed on Myers Mortuary’s Facebook page. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Bob’s memory to the American Heart Association, Boone County Cancer Society, or Pleasant View Church.

Robert "Bob" Wills

August 28, 1929 - August 9, 2023