Volney Willett

Volney L. Willett, 84, of Coarsegold, California, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2020 at CHI St. Alexius Health in Dickinson.

Volney Louis Willett was born August 22, 1935 in Hollywood, California to Oscar and Ethelga (Beatty) Willett. Shortly after birth Volney and his family moved to Hollywood Rivera. Later his family moved to Palos Verdes Estates where he attended Malago Cove Grammer School and graduating from Redondo Union High School. Volney attended the University of Southern California at Los Angeles majoring in Business Administration. He also studied for a Master’s degree in General Psychology.

Volney enlisted into the US Army in 1973 and retired in 1995 as a Senior NCO with 29 years of service. During his 29 years of service, 7 of those years were with the United States Army Reserve from 1958 to 1966.

Volney worked as a Real Estate Broker at Palos Verdes Realty. He served on the Palos Verdes Estate Board of Realty for seven years, serving as president from 1965 to 1966. He also served as the Vice President for the Savings and Loan Industry along with Public Relations for the Title Insurance Industry. Volney bought the YELP newspaper in 1997 where he was the publisher until the paper sold in 2004. After this time, he returned to the real estate business and also became a Security Officer.

Volney is survived by his children Maria (Jason) White of Lawton, OK, Dr. Volney L. (Janelle) Willett of Dickinson; sister, Noelle Willett Holzworth of Alburquerque, NM; grandchildren, Ashley (Andrew) Gonzalez of Round Rock, TX, Alyssa (Ryan) Diaz of Lawton, Ok, Kaitlyn Willett and Connor Willett both of Dickinson.

He is preceded in death by his parents; Oscar and Ethelga; sisters, Georgette Willett Armstrong and Ethelga Willett.