1952 - 2026
Richard Willman, 74, passed away peacefully at home on September 18, 2026. He was born on August 21, 1952, to Elmer and Mabel Willman.
Richard spent the first years of his life on the family farm in Watonga, Oklahoma, with his parents and sisters, Betty Ann and Linda. When he was about two years old, the family moved to Bethany, Oklahoma, where Richard grew up. Although the family continued to own the farm and Richard spent many weekends helping his dad there, he readily admitted that those long weekends of plowing never inspired a love of farming.
Richard graduated from Putnam City West High School in 1970 and briefly attended Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. College life was not for him. He often shared the story of getting into trouble on more than one occasion for cooking his dad’s homemade beef summer sausage in an electric skillet in the dorm basement. But the final straw came when the dean wanted to lock up his beloved hot rod. Richard decided it was time to come home, and he did not return.
In 1972, Richard was drafted into the United States Army. He spent most of his active-duty service at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he participated in the White Coat Program and served as a medical carrier. He was discharged from active duty in 1974 and continued serving in the Army Reserves for six additional years.
Much like his dad, Richard was a man of many talents. He was hardworking, mechanically gifted, and never afraid to learn something new. Throughout his life, he pursued many different careers. He was a partner in a van customization shop, worked as a commercial painter, drove a semi-truck, and owned his own trucking company for approximately 15 years. Along the way, Richard and his dad, Elmer, also built a home together in Edmond, Oklahoma. He later began a career as an aircraft mechanic, working his way from mechanic to lead mechanic and eventually becoming an aircraft inspector. After 20 years in the aircraft industry, Richard retired in 2015.
Richard married the love of his life, Vicki, in 1980. They shared a deeply loving and happy marriage built on mutual respect, support, friendship, and genuine enjoyment of one another’s company.
Richard took great pride in their daughter, Kari, who inherited many of her father’s wonderful qualities, including his intelligence, quiet confidence, and quick humor. His granddaughter, Anna, brought immeasurable joy to his life. In Richard’s eyes, his Anna could do no wrong. PaPa always kept a special treat in his shirt pocket for her—first her favorite candy and, as she grew older, a little spending money.
Richard was also famous among family and friends for his Christmas candy. Using a treasured recipe given to him by a dear friend many years ago, he made hundreds of batches to give as gifts. The first batch each Christmas season became a beloved tradition, and a fortunate few received private lessons in Richard’s candy-making secrets.
But Richard’s lifelong passion was cars—especially fast cars. He loved owning, building, driving, and working on them and became highly skilled at wiring, installing, and tuning fuel-injection systems in race cars. Through that passion, he developed many close and lasting friendships within the racing community.
More than 20 years ago, Richard purchased his dream car, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. For years, he planned the build and collected the parts he would need. He eventually began putting his dream into motion, but after being diagnosed with cancer in 2023, the effects of treatment and the tremors caused by Parkinson’s made working on the car increasingly difficult.
When Richard’s cancer progressed, his good friend James Goad, McKee Hot Rod Shop, and many others came together to finish the car so Richard could enjoy it. Their extraordinary gift allowed him to see his long-held dream become a reality. Richard was even able to drive his ’57 Chevy down the track. The car, and the anticipation of enjoying it, brought him tremendous happiness during the final years of his life.
Richard was a man of honor and integrity who loved his family deeply. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Vicki; his daughter, Kari; his granddaughter, Anna; his family; his racing family; and his many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Richard’s honor. Richard believed strongly in its mission, particularly as he faced his own battle with cancer.
Graveside service will be Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm in the Covington Cemetery, Covington, Oklahoma under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home and Crematory, Enid. Following the graveside service there will be a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in Richard’s home in Blanchard.