Richard Willard

Richard (“Dick”) Scott Willard, 81 passed away peacefully at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Aiken, South Carolina on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Born in Washington, DC, he is the proud son of Colonel Paul S. Willard and Mary Gaffney Willard. Dick was preceded in death by the love of his life, Brenda Alvares Willard, with whom he was married for 30 years.

Dick was known as Dad or Uncle Dick to Melinda Willard (husband Paul Brigode), Sean Patton (wife Justine Weathers), and Darryl Patton and preceded in death by his daughters Christina Willard, Sandra Patton Willard, and Deborah Willard Symons. One of Dick’s favorite roles were as Grandpa or PopPop to John Willard, Alex Symons, Whitney Symons (husband Tyler Theorin), Alicia Brigode, Zen Patton, Sebastian Patton, and great-granddaughter Laila Willard.

He had an adventurous life, having lived in foreign countries as an “Army brat” and later as an adult, traveling extensively for business and pleasure. During his lifetime he enjoyed sailing, reading, building model ships, playing golf, taking long walks with his beloved dog Preston, and watching movies. A particularly memorable trip for him was scuba diving in Bermuda with his children Sean and Sandra. He also loved gardening and he and Brenda won four “Best Yard” awards in their community. Together, they built beautiful koi ponds at two of their homes. Dick found great joy in hearing about the lives and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

Dick attended Georgetown Prep and then became a proud graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in International Studies. He worked for AFL-CIO in the United States as well as in Korea and then in Indonesia where he met his future bride, Brenda. He later worked for Youth For Understand (YFU), an international student exchange program and then Sports for Understanding. After leaving YFU he became self-employed as a consultant forming his own company, Management Resources International.

Dick will be laid to rest with his wife Brenda and daughter Sandra in Maryland, surrounded by his family and friends.