William Louis Will

William “Bill” Louis Will, age 76, died Thursday, September 13, 2018, after a short struggle with leukemia, at his home in Lake Mary, Florida. He was comforted by the Last Rites of the Church and surrounded by family. Bill was born in Colon, Panama Canal Zone on March 3, 1942 to Raymond Will and Irene Laurie Will. His grandparents moved from New York City in 1915 to work on the newly opened Panama Canal. Bill was a 1960 graduate of Cristobal High School in Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone. He got his BS degree in Economics from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, then transferred to the University of Florida for his graduate studies in Education. Bill interrupted his studies for three years, when he volunteered to attend the US Marines’ Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and went on to serve as a Marine combat commander in Vietnam in 1968. Upon completing his military service, Bill moved back to his birthplace in the Canal Zone to be a Spanish and Social Studies teacher at Cristobal High School and also a high school football and baseball coach. There he met and married his wife Patricia Urdinola. Upon his retirement from the Panama Canal Zone in 1999 he moved to Lake Mary, FL with his family. Bill was voted “Friendliest” by his senior class in High School and was known for that friendliness for all of his life. He was loved as well by his classmates, students and student athletes, many of whom he stayed in contact with throughout his life. He was an avid golfer. Bill was a devout Catholic who loved the Latin Mass. He lived his life in service to God and to his Church, his family and his country. His funeral Mass will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at St. Thomas More Church, 550 Riverview Avenue, Sanford, FL. 32771. He will be buried in All Souls Catholic Cemetery also in Sanford. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Urdinola of Cali, Colombia; daughters Christine Will de Medeiros Alves (Alvaro), and granddaughters Gloria, Julia and Maria of Lake Mary, FL; Karina Will Cruz (Jonathan) and grandchildren Sophia and Nathan of Kissimmee, FL; he was predeceased by his son Michael. His twin brother Jim Will (Dale) of The Villages, FL, brothers Robert Will (Denise) of Ormond Beach, FL and Gary Will of Aliso Viejo, CA and sisters Lauray Will Griffin of Jacksonville, FL and Darnell Will Lopez of Panama City, Panama. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be sent to the St. Thomas More Priory Building Fund at St. Thomas More Priory, 500 Riverview Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771.

William Louis Will

March 3, 1942 - September 13, 2018