Gloria Hewitt Wills

Gloria Hewitt Wills, age 82, of McLean, VA and Longboat Key, FL died peacefully at her home in Virginia on November 8, 2018 of complications from cancer.

Born in New York City to Dr. John G. and Florence (Bousquet) Hewitt, Mrs. Wills grew up in Westfield, NJ. She is survived by her five children: Jeffrey Wills, John Wills, Victoria Wills McMahon (Eugene) of Newtown, PA, Kemp B. Wills of Snow Hill, MD, and Olivia Wills Kane (Brian) of Alexandria, VA; her sister Danella H. Pearson of Marlborough, MA; and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her former husband J. Eugene Wills and her sister Rosemary H. Purcell.

After graduating from Trinity College in Washington, DC in 1957, she worked as a technical editor for the American Chemical Society and maintained an eye for detail and devotion to accuracy throughout her life. A partner and officer of Wills & Van Metre Inc., she was active in real estate development and financial investing.

Mrs. Wills served on the Parents Council of Washington in the 1970s, and was a member of the DAR (Constitution Chapter), the Christ Child Society of Washington, DC (Mary Virginia Merrick Chapter) and Sarasota, FL, the McLean Antiques Association, and the Flow Blue International Collectors Club. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC and St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Longboat Key, FL.

Mrs. Wills was known for her prodigious memory, breadth of knowledge, and graciousness. She believed in the importance of education and the value of manners. She had a passion for gardens, antique furniture, and collecting Staffordshire and Czechoslovakian pottery. She had a legendary love of conversation and delighted in the surprise find at a yard sale.

Visitation at Murphy Funeral Homes, 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203 on Wednesday, November 14th from 3pm to 7pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11am on Thursday, November 15th at St. Ignatius Church, 8855 Chapel Point Road, Port Tobacco, MD, with a visitation thirty minutes prior. Interment to follow in the churchyard.

The family is grateful to her doctors and caregivers for their kindness to Mrs. Wills and respect for her wishes. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to The Christ Child Society.