HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5013 Offered April 11, 2006 Celebrating the life of Randall Willing. ----------
Patrons-- Amundson, Englin, Miller, Sickles, Waddell and Wittman; Senator: Puller
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WHEREAS, Randall Willing of Bon Air, respected citizen and community supporter, died on March 16, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Randall "Buddy" Willing grew up in Irvington, traveled the river by steamboat, caught and sold softshell crabs, and played baseball with his friends; and

WHEREAS, the son of the late Bernard and Anna Willing, Buddy Willing graduated from Fork Union Military Academy and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and

WHEREAS, Buddy Willing served his country in the United States Army Air Force with the 82nd Airborne Division and made jumps into Sicily, Normandy, Italy, and Holland and was involved in combat during the "Battle of the Bulge"; and

WHEREAS, because of his heroic duty during World War II, Buddy Willing was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, and the coveted French Thank-You-America Certificate; and

WHEREAS, Buddy Willing married his lovely and devoted wife, Kitty Anderson, on June 12, 1948, and the couple had three wonderful children; and

WHEREAS, in 1955 the Willing family moved to Richmond and Buddy Willing worked first at State Planters Bank of Commerce and Trust, then for Crestar Bank, and retired from a prestigious banking career after 25 years; and

WHEREAS, devoted to helping his fellow citizens in need, Buddy Willing was a charter member and former president of the Lancaster Lions Club in Kilmarnock and served as president of the Tuckahoe Lions Club; and

WHEREAS, a spirited outdoorsman and mentor, especially of young people, Buddy Willing was a great supporter of and participant in the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Boomerang Association; and

WHEREAS, committed to the well-being of his neighbors, Buddy Willing was a faithful member of Saint Michael's Episcopal Church of Bon Air; and

WHEREAS, Randall Willing will be fondly remembered for his immense generosity and amiable nature and missed by his loving family, his numerous friends and admirers, and the congregation of Saint Michael's Episcopal Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine Virginian, Randall Willing; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Randall Willing as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.