William Albert Vill, age 82, of Cumming, GA, passed away on August 25, 2026 due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis. Born on October 4, 1943 in Elizabeth, NJ to Alice Rita and William Albert Vill Sr, Mr. Vill, known to all as Bill, attended St. Mary’s High school and earned his chemical engineering degree from Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA. He later received his MBA from the University of Houston.
Bill spent his professional career in the paper industry, employed by Owens Illinois in Valdosta, GA and later at Inland Orange in Orange, TX, serving as the Pulp Mill Superintendent. Later, he moved to Rome, GA where his career focused on expert engineering consultation with extensive travel. Bill was an avid member of TAPPI or Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry, where he served in influential roles. His engineering career ended early due to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
An avid outdoorsman, Bill enjoyed swimming, water-skiing, camping, scuba diving and hunting. He thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world to dive among the most beautiful reefs or traveling across the country to find the next prize trophy. His underwater photography serves as a reminder of the beauty found in hidden places. Lovingly known as the “best ski instructor,” Bill loved teaching his daughters and their friends how to water ski on many a weekend camping trip. Active in his church, Bill served as a Lay Reader, and he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed hours of sun, yard work and gardening, as he constantly strove to have the most well-kept and greenest lawn in the neighborhood. Later in life, Bill became fascinated with genealogy and enjoyed traveling with his wife to find information about both sides of their families.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers Robert Vill and Gary Vill. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Dees Vill of Cumming, GA; his eldest daughter Deborah Ann Vill of Cumming, GA; his youngest daughter Christina Vill Reed (Eric) of Milton, GA; his only grandson Coleton Hunter Reed of Milton, GA; four sisters, Denise Horbacz (Richard) of New Bern, NC; Janet Shacrew (James) of Richmond, KY; Barbara Culotta of Stark, FL; Patricia Edy (Shaun) of Marriottsville, MD; one brother, Roger Vill of Baltimore, MD; many cousins and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of a traditional funeral service, William made the selfless decision to donate his body to medical science in the hope that it would allow researchers to make advancements in the study of Multiple Sclerosis. Honoring this legacy and final wish is one of the greatest ways we can celebrate him. We are grateful for the time, laughter and love we shared. Bill was a wonderful husband, an extraordinary father, and a man who lived fully, loved deeply and left the world better than he found it.
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