Saratoga Springs, NY- Willis (Bill) Benjamin White Jr., 87, died March 15, 2012.
Willis was born July 5, 1924, in East Schodack, NY, the son of Willis B. White Sr. and Francis A. (Alter) White. According to Willis Jr., he entered the world during the Depression and prohibition era, although the latter was of no great consequence. He attended Albany High School and was interested in girls, sports and studying in that order. He played football and basketball. Willis believed he made the basketball team because no one wanted to wear uniform 13. As a teenager, Willis played the clarinet in the school and village band. After graduating in 1942, Willis entered the Navy that same year as an Aviation Machinist stationed in Hawaii and was honorably discharged in 1946. That same year, Willis entered Hope College in Holland Michigan, graduating in 1950 and also attended the University of Connecticut graduating with a master’s degree in social work.
In 1947, he married his wife, Gloria Joy Percey. He once commented that although he had known her since she was 12, it never occurred to him to view her as a love object. Following discharge from the Navy, a new awareness developed. He proposed one night, cancelled it the next and had to propose all over again the third. He stated in recent years how needless it was for the indecision.
Willis worked as a parole officer for the State Training School at Industry, NY, until 1957 when he took a position as Director of Probation for Tompkins County and moved to Trumansburg, NY, from Elmira, NY. In 1962, he became Director of Camp MacCormick for the NYS Division for Youth. In 1968, Willis took a promotion as an Executive Program Administrator with the NYS Division for Youth moving to the Saratoga region. Upon his retirement in 1979, Willis opened his own counseling practice in Albany utilizing hypnosis for various conditions. He was also director of New Beginnings Associates, a Saratoga-based counseling agency for a number of years. He was a tutor at Empire State College for social work.
Willis received numerous awards and accolades for his pioneering work with youth over many decades. His friends and co-workers described him as, “quiet, down to earth, always involved, and living life to its fullest.”
Willis collected and fixed antique clocks as well as Wallace Nutting pictures for many years. He wrote two books on Wallace Nutting and has two children books in progress. Willis enjoyed cycling and cross-country skiing in his earlier years. He once met and skied with Maria VonTrapp in Vermont. Willis was an original “Polar Bear” member in 1972 on Lake George. Willis enjoyed acting and being a standup comedian for many years with HMT and then with the Stillwater Players where he was known as “Grandpa Willis.” He had bit-parts in movies such as “The Way We Were,” “Ghost Story,” and “Billy Bathgate.” Willis took up magic in his 60s and became very good at it performing on stage and at various groups around the region. He especially enjoyed performing for children. Willis purchased a cottage in Dennis port on Cape Cod in the late 1970s. It provided many wonderful family memories. He was an avid reader, driving to the library twice weekly for new novels. Willis loved to travel, venturing twice through the southern and the northern routes across the United States with his wife, Gloria, in their RV. Willis also spent time in England, Ireland, Scotland and Italy with Gloria collecting information on his ancestry, which one day will be given to his sons and grandchildren. He took a cruise to Alaska with his son Jonathan in his 70s and talked about the adventure often.
Willis was actively involved with many organizations such as the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians, Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard, Past Grand Master Mason of the Trumansburg, NY, Masonic lodge, The Elks of Saratoga Springs, Aids “Buddy” program, Veterans Administration, The Humor Project, Deacon for the First Presbyterian Church, and to The Eddy. Whenever a volunteer was needed, Willis’ hand was the first to go up.
Willis was predeceased by his beloved wife, Gloria.
Willis was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all. His wit, humor and easy manner will be missed. He is survived by his children, Ronald (Cathy), Michael (Julie Rodriguez) and Jonathan White; sister, Joan Bowen; brother-in-law, Regis Percey; grandchildren, Collin, Abbey, Eva, Taryn and Shane; two great-grandchildren, Matthew Diamond and Mya Walford; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Saturday April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Presbyterian New-England Church, 24 Circular St., Saratoga Springs, NY. There will be a reception immediately following the service.
Burial services with military honors will be conducted at the Saratoga National Cemetery April 18 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Willis’ memory to The Albany Damien Center, 12 South Lake Ave., Albany, NY 12203.
Online remembrances may be made at www.tunisonfuneralhome.com.
