Charles A. "Chuck" Wills Jr.

1973 - 2016

Charles "Chuck" A. Wills Jr., a former TCU football standout known as a "gentle giant" to his family and friends, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at an Arlington hospital after battling melanoma. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Saturday at Fielder Church. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple to celebrate Chuck and his TCU spirit. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Zabette Wills at any EECU location, Acct. #656636, benefiting Colton and Zoey Wills' College Fund. Bill pay contributions welcome. Charles Alfred Wills Jr. was born April 26, 1973, in Indianapolis, Ind., the youngest of Charles and Marlene Wills' four children. He graduated from Whiteland Community High School in 1991 and attended TCU on a football scholarship. As a starting offensive guard he helped the Horned Frogs win a share of the SWC Championship and a berth in the Independence Bowl in 1994. After graduating from TCU in 1995, he embarked on a 20-year coaching and teaching career in North Texas, most recently at Arlington ISD's Nichols Junior High where he had served on the faculty since 2006. He married his college sweetheart, Zabette, on May 23, 1998. They made their home in Arlington where they raised their two children. Chuck was a faithful Christian and a devoted husband and father who loved taking family vacations, attending TCU football games, and coaching his children's sports teams. Survivors: He is survived by his wife, Zabette; children, Colton and Zoey of Arlington; parents, Charles and Marlene Wills of New Whiteland, Ind.; siblings, John Wills (Pam) of Celina, Tenn., Kathleen Witcher (John) of Franklin, Ind., Shaleen Jones (Jeff) of Bargersville, Ind.; niece, Jordan Jones; and nephew, Robert Cooney.