Matthew Wills Obituary

Wills
Matthew Buckner
Wills
October 22, 1932
December 19, 2025

Matthew Buckner Wills passed away at his home in Colorado Springs on December 19, 2025. He was 93 years old, surrounded by the love of his family.
Matthew is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Julia Ryan Wills, his three daughters- Carter Wills McKenzie, her daughters, Ryan and Eavan McKenzie; Aurelia Wills, her husband Thaddeus Austin, their children Stewart and Miles Austin, Jessie Austin O'Neill, her husband Eoghan, and their daughter Roísín; and Ellen Wills Higgins, and her sons, Addison, Philip, and Ethan Higgins. Matthew is also survived by his sister Ellen Wills Martin of Washington D.C., cousins, nephews, and a niece.
Matthew was preceded in death by an infant brother Jesse, his parents, Jesse Ely Wills and Ellen Buckner Wills, his brother Ridley Wills II of Nashville, Tennessee, who died in early 2025, and his son Matthew Buckner Wills Jr., who died in 2003.
Matthew was born in Nashville, Tennessee on October 22, 1932. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University before serving as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1954-56. He attended law school at the University of Virginia and the University of Colorado at Boulder. During his year in Virginia, Matt met his future wife Julia Ryan on a picnic at Sugar Hollow.
Matthew and Julia were married in Charlottesville on June 21, 1958. They settled in Colorado Springs. He practiced law in Colorado from 1959-1984. He and Julia were members of First Presbyterian Church, where Matt served as an elder. He and Julia had a circle of beloved friends in Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, and Britain.
When Matt retired, he devoted his attention to writing books of history. Titles of his published books include: Wartime Missions of Harry L. Hopkins; A Diminished President: FDR in 1944; In the Highest Traditions of the Royal Navy: The Life of Captain John Leach. The biography of Captain Leach was written in cooperation with Captain Leach's son, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach. The book was listed by an influential British newspaper reviewer as "The best military history of 2011."
In an effort to bolster US Navy and Royal Navy relations, Matthew began writing for The Naval Review (NR), a professional journal issued quarterly and circulated throughout the Royal Navy and related organizations. He had 21 articles published by the NR. In view of the quality of his work and the support he had given, he was granted honorary membership, a rare privilege which he regarded as one of the highlights of his life. A former Chairman of Trustees of the NR, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, says of him 'A charming man who was a great supporter of The Naval Review and the US/UK relationship in general. He will be missed.'
Matthew's interest in the British navy was lifelong, first inspired by his father's gifts of books on the subject when he was young.
Matthew also had an abiding love of trees, particularly maples. He cultivated seedlings on the land around his and Julia's home, planted many maple varieties, and gave trees as gifts to family and friends.
A graveside service for family will be held in Lynchburg, Virginia in the spring.
Please make donations in Matthew's honor to Colorado Open Lands.