Willard Allen Tyler

Willard "Bill" A. Tyler

2-17-1947 — 11-24-2019


Bill Tyler died peacefully after a long and brave fight against a devastating illness, with his wife of 39 years by his side. He was a war hero, a small business owner, and above all else, a loving husband, father, and grandfather who found the most joy with those he loved.


He was a war hero in the truest sense, serving in heavy combat in the United States Army during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam war. He often shared stories of the men with whom he served, and the Vietnamese people for whom he had a deep and profound respect. As the last surviving male in his family, he was offered a ticket home in the middle of his combat tour. He asked his commanding officer to tear up the letter from a United States Senator, so he could return to the jungle to finish serving his country with honor. And that's exactly what he did.


He returned home and worked various jobs before starting his own successful pest control company, which he operated with pride and skill for three decades. Even then, his quiet bravery was displayed when he would go off to work in the morning and mysteriously return home that afternoon with a black widow spider in a jar. The next day, he might bring that jar to his son's classroom and give a lecture about spiders; and then after school, perhaps he'd throw 250 pitches to his other son's entire baseball team. On Saturday, it wasn't uncommon for him to hop between baseball fields so he could watch each of his sons' at bats. He was always there.


With more pride and skill than could ever be demonstrated in combat or in business, he was my loving dad. He turned the devastation of war into a series of life lessons on persevering and doing what he had to do. He gave up a lot of money and professional growth to be there waiting when my brother and I got home from school nearly every day. He took more baseballs to the face than any man should ever have to. He was there, always. He was the dad to my brother and me that he never had.


He married my mom on July 4, 1980, and they remained together through countless good times and tough times. The love and devotion they showed to each other through it all should be inspiring to anyone who paid attention. They didn't do it for the recognition— they did what they thought was right for their family. Always. Dad is survived by his eternally devoted wife, Rita. She was his angel, and never left his side. We're so proud of you and thankful for you, mom. You brought him a lot of joy, and fought to maintain his dignity when illness made it virtually impossible to do so. And you succeeded.


My dad could be a complicated man. He was complex. But he was beautiful, and he was decent, and he was full of love. He made the absolute best of a life filled with difficulties and misfortunes that might have made a lesser, weaker man lose his way. He never complained about any of it. He persevered. He did what he had to do. And he loved, so deeply and selflessly. He died on Sunday night, and left a void in our lives that will never be filled. He was the greatest man I'll ever know. He was my hero. I'm lucky he was my dad.


-Timothy Tyler