Peter Webster Willits

Peter Webster Willits, a longtime resident of Leawood, Kansas and most recently Decatur, Alabama, passed away on January 3, 2025, at Decatur-Morgan Hospital. Peter was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 17, 1933, the son of Dr. Lyle G. Willits and Laura Willits. He was educated at Pembroke Day School in Kansas City, followed by the University of Kansas and Northwestern University, where he graduated and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Peter was a Vietnam vet having served 17.5 years in the United States Navy after graduating Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. His illustrious Naval career began with Naval Special Warfare, Coronado, CA where he graduated BUDS training in 1959, becoming a “frogman” assigned to UDT team 11 (becoming SEAL Team 5). Throughout his naval career, Peter was assigned to many duties that include, Under Water Demolition Unit officer, MAAG-Vietnam (Military Assistance Advisory Group) officer assigned to train Vietnamese Frogmen/SEALs, Defense Intelligence Agency, Commanding Officer of Naval Underwater Swimmers School, MACVSOG, and MACV protocol officer to Commander in Chief-Pacific. Peter concluded his naval career in 1973 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He began his second and lengthy career with the US Postal Service in Kansas City, until he retired in 2022, at the young age of 88. Peter is survived by his three children, Lyle Carter Willits, and his wife, Theresa Patterson Willits of Decatur, Alabama, Christopher Peter Willits and his wife, Andrea Lessani-Willits, of Half Moon Bay, California and Philip Scott Willits of Kansas City, Kansas. He also leaves 5 grandchildren, Megan Boston and Sara Willits of Trinity, Alabama, Paige Willits of Decatur, Alabama and Madeleine and Adam Willits of Half Moon Bay, California. Additionally, he leaves behind 3 great-grandchildren: Carter Boston, Grant Barfield and Abigail Barfield. He was preceded in death by his parents and older brothers, Lyle (Bill) Willits of Bermuda, Robert W. Willits of Kansas City, Missouri and Charles R. Willits of North Palm Beach, Florida. A funeral service celebrating the life of Peter Willits will be held on January 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Visitation will precede the service from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm. at Shelton Funeral Home, 2105 Beltline Road SW, Decatur, Alabama 35601.

Peter Webster Willits

December 17, 1933 - January 3, 2025