Willard Thomas Wylie

Aug. 11, 1925 - May 4, 2014

Long time Vacaville resident, Willard (Will) Wylie passed away peacefully at his home with his wife and daughter by his side on Sunday evening, May 4. Willard was born in Cedarville, Calif., on Aug. 11, 1925 to parents, Tom and Elfreda Wylie. He graduated from Surprise Valley Union High School in 1943 and attended the University of California for one year before serving in the US Navy during World War II as a Pharmacist Mate.

After the war, Will returned to UC Berkeley and later attended the University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco. While completing dental school, he met and married his wife, Merrill and together they enjoyed 63 years of marriage. They settled in Vacaville in 1952, where he practiced family dentistry for the next 38 years.

Will participated in many community activities. He was elected to the Vacaville High School Board of Trustees and was senior warden of Epiphany Episcopal Church when the present church was built. Will was a long standing member of the Vacaville Rotary Club, serving as President in 1964 - 1965. Some of his favorite times were spent at "the cabin" in Lake Tahoe entertaining family and friends. Will enjoyed fishing, duck hunting and attending many UC Golden Bears sporting events. As an avid Cal "Bear Backer" he attended 66 consecutive "Big Games". A highlight for Will was in 1982 at the Berkeley-Stanford "Big Game" when he was present to see "the Play" which propelled the Bears to one of the most memorable wins in college sports. In Will's customary enthusiasm for life, he was known to proudly sing the Cal fight songs at every given opportunity.

Will was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kathleen Grove and brother, Dean Wylie.

Will is survived by his wife, Merrill and his three daughters, KC, Lynn and Nan; son-in law, Joel Casburn and grandson, Cody Casburn; numerous nieces and nephews and his beloved hunting dog, Kate. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.

The Wylie family would like to acknowledge and extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Caryn Paylor, Darryl Hayden and the entire Kaiser Permanente Hospice Team. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Cedarville, Calif., where Willard will be laid to rest. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Will's memory to the "Vacaville High School Music Boosters", 100 West Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville, CA 95688 or the "Cal Athletics Fund", c/o UC Berkeley, 195 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720.