Michael Ralph Wills of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on October 4, 2024. Michael was born on May 4, 1931 in Bath, England, the eldest son of the late Ralph and Una Wills. He was predeceased by his younger brother James, and by three of his five children, Matthew, Catherine, and Benjamin, who all died far too early from the rare genetic disease Sanfilippo. He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret, who has been his magnificent partner throughout their 69 years of marriage, their daughter Sarah Bealmear (David), their son Thomas (Mary K.), and their three grandchildren Luke Wills, Colin Wills, and William Bealmear.

After initial schooling, in Bath and Bristol, Michael entered the School of Medicine at the University of Bristol in 1949 and graduated with distinction M.B, Ch.B. in 1954. Following graduation, he worked at the Bristol Royal Infirmary where he met his future wife, Margaret, in the ENT operating room. They were married on September 12, 1955, at St Mary on the Quay Church in Bristol. He then joined the Royal Navy for two years of mandatory National Service and served in East Asia. After completion of National Service, Michael returned to the BRI and was also awarded the degrees of M.D. and Ph.D. by the University of Bristol. Michael joined the Consultant Medical Staff and Faculty of the Royal Free Hospital, London, in 1968 where he was eventually appointed Professor and Director of the Metabolic Unit in the new Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Michael had joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and after his National Service he continued to serve until his resignation in March 1974 when he was placed on the Retired List and appointed as a Civilian Consultant. In 1974 he was awarded the Reserve Decoration in the Civil List by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977 Michael was recruited to the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville Virginia, USA, and joined the Faculty in the Departments of Pathology, as Director of the Hospital’s Clinical Laboratories, and Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology. He retired in 1997 as Emeritus Professor in Pathology and Medicine. In retirement he enjoyed working in the tasting room at Whitehall Vineyards.

Throughout his career Michael authored and co-authored two hundred and thirty-seven publications in Professional Journals. He wrote five books, two of which ran into second editions and one of which was translated into Japanese, and he also made two Educational Films. Michael was an Editorial writer for the English Medical Journal “The Lancet”.

Michael was a devout Catholic and was a parish member of St Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to spending time with his family Michael enjoyed gardening, painting miniature soldiers, wood carving, making dioramas in mixed media, creating paper sculptures of Christmas scenes featuring choir boys, and collecting antiques. In his younger days Michael was a rugby and squash player.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Hospice of the Piedmont or to the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation (PO Box 6901, Columbia, SC 29260). Michael’s family extends their deepest thanks to Dr. Barbara Post at UVA Northridge and to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Hospice of the Piedmont.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.