Paul Arthur Willis CDR NAVY (RET)

Paul Willis passed away on February 3, 2025. Paul grew up in San Lorenzo, California and enlisted in the Navy just after high school. He spent 28 years in the Navy, rising in rank from E1 to Commander. He began his Navy service as an Electronics Technician on submarines. He was selected for the NECEP Program and received his engineering degree from Purdue University and was commissioned as an Ensign. He was a member of the commissioning crew of the USS Duncan, FFG 10. He then transitioned to the Engineering Duty Officer community and attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA., where he met and married his wife CAPT (Ret), Zdenka Willis. They were married for 38 wonderful years.

They served together in the Navy for 11 years before Paul retired in 1998. His tours for duty include supporting the Tomahawk, AEGIS and Theater Air Defense programs and on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. After retiring, he continued to support the Navy working at Whitney Bradly and Brown LLC, starting his consulting business. During this period he supported the building of the Littoral Combat Ship and was happiest when he worked onboard the ships with the Officers and Crew.

In retirement, Paul turned his full attention to his family and hobbies. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix and was the family source of knowledge on all home projects. He was curious and loved to understand how things worked. He loved to teach and share his love of building and fixing things with his children, nieces , nephews and grandchildren. He was fun loving and always good naturedly let his nieces and nephews know that he was their “favorite” uncle. A masterful photographer, he enjoyed photographing wild life and architecture, and was always employed to take the family pictures. He was a wonderful baker and the many recipients of his treats still talk about them, including the dogs he made dog biscuits for.

An avid Tesla fan, Paul and Zdenka took the “scenic” route on road trips as they participated in a friendly competition to see who could stop at the most superchargers. Their proudest moment was when they were the first to hit all the super chargers in Iceland this summer.

Paul is survived by Zdenka, his daughter Roz and son Brandon as well as two grandsons, Parker and Aidan, sister Pat, brother Joe, nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, great grand nieces and nephews.

A kind and wonderful man whom we all miss – remember WWUPD.

Details about a commemorative gathering and burial at Arlington are to come.