Raoul Vyctor Willard

Raoul Vyctor Willard, 83, died at his home on July 27, 2026, after a long journey with Alzheimer's disease. He was surrounded by loved ones in the days preceding his passing.

Raoul was born on June 3, 1943, son of Winfield Wayne Willard and Guadalupe Ramos Ortiz. Raoul lived a life shaped by positivity and deep connection. From his very first moments, he created his first lifelong bond with his twin brother, Roque Lynn. Raoul was the fourth child, and he liked to remind Lynn that he was the fifth - by thirteen minutes. A younger brother joined the family eighteen months later, and a sister followed five years after that.

The seven children grew up in humble circumstances, moving several times between Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, eventually settling in a small home in Golden, Colorado. Their mother, Lupe, raised them mostly on her own. The oldest sisters, Anita and Alicia, were each assigned a twin to look after, and Alicia always called Raoul "her twin."

Raoul and Lynn enjoyed all the perks of being twins, including occasionally tricking their teachers by switching classes.

After high school, they carried their twin bond into adulthood by volunteering for the Army together. They were placed in the same unit, and only later learned that their individual assignments had been split, with Raoul assigned to Germany and Lynn to France. Raoul found the assigning officer and requested that they remain together. Both brothers were reassigned to serve together in Paris, France.

It was while he was serving in France that Raoul met Sandra Garthwaite, a member of the British Royal Air Force. She was a secretary who loved marching. He was a fun American member of the military police. Soon, a courtship started. Raoul, a recent convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, introduced Sandy to his faith. She took missionary lessons, joined the church, and accepted Raoul's proposal to get married.

Raoul and Sandy had their first son, Ian, in 1968. Nigel followed two years later, and Mark came eight years after that. The family of five lived in Colorado and Washington for several years before moving to Utah, where Raoul would continue his education.

Raoul's career started in police work at the University of Colorado, the University of Washington, and BYU. He also worked several other jobs, including briefly for Boeing as a riveter mechanic. Eventually, after furthering his education, he became a therapist at a school for youth. He had a talent for connecting with young people and helping them with the often serious challenges that brought them to the school. One of his favorite methods of counseling was equine therapy.

Throughout his life Raoul's connections also came from being a loving uncle, often inviting family members to stay in his home. He was a foster parent, a devoted friend to many, and a dedicated ward member in church congregations. He served his family, friends, co-workers and neighbors with love. One small example of his service came through his chess board. When a neighbor was bedridden after an accident, Raoul visited weekly to play, offering companionship and competition. Raoul's playful personality came through in almost everything he did.

Raoul and Sandy shared 47 years of marriage, devoted to raising their sons and enjoying their growing family of daughters‑in‑law, grandchildren, great‑nieces, nephews, and others who felt like their own. Sandy passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer.

In time, Raoul met Cruz Maria Benavidez (Mary), and the bond they formed became one of the great blessings of his life. They met at a dance, where Raoul struck up a conversation, kept her on the dance floor, and called her within days for their first date. Their connection deepened quickly, and together they built a life filled with hiking, traveling, and time with both of their families. They were married in 2017, and Mary remained Raoul's devoted partner and closest companion.

Raoul loved spending time with Mary's children and grandchildren. He formed a special bond with each of them and their beloved matriarch. His life was richly blessed by their love and support, even as his health became challenging.

In the last couple of years of Raoul's life, his many connections cared for him, served him, lifted him, fed him, and nursed him. His lifetime of caring and serving was rewarded with love in abundance.

Raoul was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Daniel Willard, his sisters Alicia Morphew and Laurie Garcia, and his foster daughter Cathy York. He is survived by his wife, Mary; Siblings; Anita, Roque Lynn (Jeanne), Lance (Sue), Christy, Shawna (Bill); sons, Ian (Anita), Nigel (Lori), and Mark (Gretchen); his step-children Suzanna (Tom) and Marc (Morgan); and 19 beloved grandchildren: Amilia, Sandra, Sicily, Mia, Tatiana, Isaac, Adam, Jacob, Joshua, Michael, Miles, Evan, Boss, Kingston, Lincoln, Harley, Ethan, Cruz, and Mason.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, August 3, 2026 at 270 N 900 E American Fork, UT. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, August 2, from 6-8 p.m. at Anderson & Son's Mortuary in American Fork, UT