Birthday Spotlight: Joe Denny Wills

Birthdays are reminders of our marking time on earth.  They afford us the chance for retrospection.  Today's my father's birthday.  Joe Denny Wills was named after his grandfather when he was born on November 7, 1939 in Columbia, South Carolina.  It wasn't long before he moved to Seminole, Florida with his parents and big sister, Patricia Ann.  He grew up in Florida but traveled to South Carolina for vacations and holidays with his larger family of uncles, aunts and cousins.

After high school, my dad did a stint in the army and followed that with his college career.  He met and married my mom, Harriet, and started a family.  It wasn't long before he started traveling the world and taking us with him.  The adventures we've shared are priceless memories.  I'm sure he could write a book.

Dad and Mark, St. Pete Beach, 1961

Front row: Julie, Mark & Jeff Wills.  Back row: Addie, Harriet, Joe Denny and Joe Summers Wills, February 1973

We had our picture taken with my dad's parents just before we left on our way to live in Tehran, Iran.  I chose this picture because I really like the tie my dad is wearing and the leather jacket Granddaddy Wills is about to bust out of.  Julie is ready to go, go, go and we're just thrilled to be going on a long plane flight.  By this time we were already pretty seasoned travelers.

Joe DennyWills, Addie Holt Wills, Patricia Wills Charlow, circa 1978

This picture reminds me of spending time with Aunt Pat and the various occasions we'd get together with Grandma and Granddaddy Wills.  Most often, Dad was stateside or in Florida for a short time on vacation on an interlude during a business trip.  He'd always stop in to see his parents and his sister, nieces and nephew.  When we were with him, we would too.

Joe Denny with Harriet and his father, Joe Summers outside his parent's home in Holiday, Florida, late 1970s

Granddaddy and Grandma Wills lived in Holiday, Florida after they retired, beginning in the mid-1960s.  I remember Granddaddy's fig trees (one pictured above) and his poinsettias.  Too bad I never took a picture of his other favorite hobby, his cockatiels and parakeets.

Busy guy or messy desk, or both?  Dad's office, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia 1984

By the mid-1980s Dad had a lot of experience in the petrochemical construction industry and had lived all throughout the States, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

I know this is just midway but I wanted to share part of how much life one can have behind them, in retrospect, so that we realize just how much we have before us.  Happy Birthday, Dad!

Joe Denny Wills, Saluda, South Carolina, July 30, 2010