David Sidney Willis

1934 - 2010

David Sidney Willis, 75, of Richardson died of natural causes Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at a Richardson hopspital. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at Canyon Creek Country Club, 625 W. Lookout Drive, Richardson. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Rice University Undergraduate Initiative, Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251, or the Richardson YMCA Capital Campaign, 821 Custer Road, Richardson, Texas 75080. David was born Dec. 31, 1934, in Dallas to Elbert S. Willis and Lucile Atkins Willis. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1953 and was a member of the Rice University graduation class of 1957 where he earned a bachelor of science in engineering. David married Faye Rathgeber Willis of Fort Worth on June 7, 1958. He served in the United States Air Force, on active duty and in the reserves from 1959 to 1965. In 1959, David began his business career at IBM, where he received five promotions in nine years. After nine successful years at IBM, David co-founded Computer Information Management Inc., a predecessor corporation to DATACOM Systems Inc., a company that provides network solutions to Fortune 500 companies all over the world. In 1975, David joined ATMOS Lighting Inc. as its chief executive. David successfully reorganized ATMOS and restored its profitability before he sold the company in 1980. From 1980 to 1985, David worked as a business turnaround specialist and helped several technology companies improve their business operations and profitability. David joined Linx Data Terminals Inc. in 1985, and served as its chief executive through 1999. In the late 1960s, David taught Sunday school at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. David was an ardent supporter of the Dallas Classical Guitar Society and served as its president and on its board of directors. For more than 40 years, David and his family have been members of Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson. While David enjoyed playing tennis and golf at Canyon Creek, most of all he cherished the many lifelong friendships he made at Canyon Creek. In later years, David enjoyed the study of genealogy and United States coins. Survivors: Wife, Faye; daughter, Julie Whitaker and husband, Bert; daughter, Carol Butrus and husband, John; daughter, Nancy Willis; sister, Maryanne Willis; grandchildren, Christy Butrus, Alex Butrus, Willis Whitaker, Joseph Butrus and Jack Whitaker; and many supportive and loving friends from his years in Canyon Creek and from his early years at Highland Park High School.