Dr. Edward Wills

Dr. Edward L. Wills 80, passed away on Wednesday September 2, 2020. He was born on April 28, 1940 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd T. Wills and Hulda Still Wills. He is survived by: Sisters Mary W. Buckman of Reisterstown, Maryland, Elaine W. Pass of Hueytown, Alabama and Jerry W. Sims of Wetumpka, Alabama and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. After serving as a UAB Physics faculty member Ed was appointed as a Professor Emeritus. Before joining the UAB faculty on July 16, 1973, he was an undergraduate at Auburn University, a Ph.D. student at the University of Virginia, and a post-doc at the University of Georgia where he did research in nuclear physics. He was involved in many experimental research efforts during his long career at UAB, including blood flow studies with the department of Neurology. He was appreciated as an effective teacher for both graduate and undergraduate classes, and oversaw the undergraduate lab program for many years. Ed played the trumpet in the Auburn band and, after retirement, he immensely enjoyed playing with friends in the Birmingham Community Concert Band, as well as with the UAB Summer Band for its annual 4th of July concert. For many years, travelling back to Auburn to play with the Alumni Band, on the field at homecoming, was one of his yearly highlights. Ed kept in contact with a group of friends from high school over many years, helping to organize some of the Woodlawn High school class reunions. (Class of 1958) Until prevented by recent health struggles over the last couple of years, he continued meeting up, for informal reunions with some of these old friends he had known since grade school in East Lake. Ed supported several causes in the Birmingham area over the years. He previously served as a board member for Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, supported the Alabama Theater, where there is a seat with his name on it, and gave annually to the Jimmie Hale Mission. Ed was known affectionately as “Doc” to many of his closest friends at UAB. He enjoyed his lunches of many years with Jerry Sewell, Dr. Todd Devore, Donna Andrews and Donna Hamer. The ashes of Dr. Edward Wills will be interred at Jefferson Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Trussville, Alabama.