William "Willy" Ward Stillman

William “Willy” Ward Stillman passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 14, 2026 at the age of 70.

Willy was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife, Donna; his brother, Doug, and family; his daughter, Annie and her husband, Travis, his daughter Pam; his son, Michael, and his wife, Annelise; and his grandchildren: Keegan, Kylie, Xavier, Megan, Austin, India, and Scout.

Willy had countless friends and would make a new friend no matter where he was. He always met strangers warmly and seemed to find common ground in an instant. Among his many friends were Mark, Bob, Colby, Billy W., Richard, Lanier, and many, many others. Willy never seemed to meet a stranger. He had a gift for talking with just about anyone, making people laugh, and turning acquaintances into lifelong friends. He was a light to those around him and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Willy had a passion for restoring classic cars and building hot rods. Throughout his life, he built, repaired, and restored hundreds of unique classic cars. What others saw simply as a machine, Willy understood down to the smallest detail. He had an extraordinary ability to figure out how something worked and to bring cars back to life. His knowledge, skill, and passion for automobiles were remarkable, and his work spoke for itself.

He was also an exceptionally skilled drag racer, bringing home trophies and exhilarated by the speed he mastered behind the wheel of his own creations. He had a special fondness for the Morris Minor, transforming a simple street car into a high-performance racing machine. Whether he was behind the wheel, under the hood, or sharing stories with friends, cars and racing were a defining part of Willy’s life and something he truly loved.

Willy’s life was about more than cars and racing. His faith was important to him, and he gave his time serving in prison ministry, sharing encouragement, hope, and the message of Christ with those who needed it. He believed people were worth talking to and worth caring about, no matter where they were in life.

And anyone who knew Willy knew he loved good Mexican food. A plate of good barbacoa, a good conversation, and friends or family around the table was his kind of time well spent.

Now, after a life spent restoring cars, racing down tracks, serving others, making friends, enjoying a good meal, and loving his family, Willy has made it to the finish line.

We take comfort in knowing that he is now walking with our Savior, free from the troubles of this life and finally home.

We will miss your stories, your laughter, your friendship, your knowledge, and the light you brought into the lives of so many.

You made it to the finish line, Willy.

Until we meet again.