Richard Eugene “Willie” Wilson, our daddy, our papa, passed away after a long battle with heart failure and renal failure on February 11, 2026, surrounded by family and holding his daughter’s hand.
Willie was born on May 25, 1946, to Frank Edward Wilson and MayEtta Burns in Denver, Colorado. He was the third of four children.
His love for music started early and blossomed in the 60s and 70s. He kept a list of over 100 bands he has seen live, including Woodstock. That love passed down to his daughter and was often something they bonded over.
Willie joined the Army instead of waiting to be drafted on March 9, 1965. He served as a Photo Lab Specialist with a classified clearance. He would often call himself a spy and even in his last days, telling his family, “If I was in a plane flying over certain countries and they knew I was in it, they’d shoot it down.” He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged on February 15, 1968.
He was always a talented artist. He drew and painted in his younger years. He has paintings in six museums in Europe.
While being a member of a nudist colony he met his first and only girlfriend, and the reason he was breathing, Linda Lee Byrge in Denver. He paid a voodoo priest for her freedom, and they started the best love story ever. Willie asked Linda to marry him every day for a year, and her answer was always “no.” On March 27, 1976, while visiting Linda’s family, they were surprised with a wedding. They shrugged their shoulders and never looked back. They later sealed that love, making it eternal in the Manti Utah Temple. Three years later after a traumatic birth, they had their only child, Felicia Marie, and she gave them a renewed reason for being. They taught her what love should look like and feel like and how she should be loved. He taught her what kind of husband she deserved; something a father’s example should be.
He worked at Western Cine in Denver, developing film. As one of few places that still did that, he helped to develop and stitch together major movies, earning him an honorary Oscar. While working there, part of his job was to develop training film for the Denver Broncos. This was something that he would always be proud about, as the Broncos were his team. He really did bleed orange and blue. This often gave him perks like attending the games in the press booth, often taking Felicia with him or just game tickets, often taking his sister-in-law, Brenda. These are fond memories they will carry forever.
They moved to Price, Utah in the 90s, to be closer to family. This is where, after attending missionary classes his daughter and niece were taking, he decided to be baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This conversion story would take him to meet with the first presidency to tell his story. He graduated from CEU and then later from Southern Utah University with his teaching degree in math and science. He loved being a teacher. He taught for a short time in Cedar City before they moved back to Price. He would later get a job at Walmart, doing many things but is often remembered as the greeter, which was a time he looked at fondly.
He was “Papa” to three grandchildren. Keira, who carries with her the ability and love for art, drawing, painting, creating. Riley, who has always loved playing and watching sports, something they could share together. And Little Lorelai, who lit up the room whenever she was in it. He didn’t miss a cross-country meet, baseball or basketball game until he was too ill to. They truly were the light of his life.
In 2020, he suddenly lost the love of his life, Linda, and moved in with his daughter and her family where for six years he saw them and ate dinner with them nearly every day to the day he continued his journey without them.
Memorial service, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street, Price, Utah 84501), where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Richard online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.