Willard "Bill" Thomas Reece

Bill, age 96, was born June 23,1928 in Greenville, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three children of Rev. Owen and Zalez Reece. After graduating from Edmond, OK High School, he was a student at Central State College, Edmond OK for two years. After serving in the US Air Force, he became a student at Phillips University, Enid OK where received a BA Degree. At Phillips he served as President of the Senior class, was honored as a member of who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He was also honored as a member of Blue Key Scholastic Society. He served as President of the Phillips Christian Fellowship and enjoyed being in the Gridiron Social Service Club. While in seminary, he served as Youth Minister at First Christian Church in Tonkawa OK. After graduation he married the love of his life, Ginny. Together they had four children, Becky, Cindy, Jon and Jim. He then became senior minister at First Christian Church in Tahlequah OK, Britton Christian Church in Oklahoma City and First Christian Church in Shawnee, OK. In 1966 Bill became the founding minister for Pine Valley Christian Church in Wichita, KS where he served for 27 years until his retirement in 1993. As minister of PVCC he led the congregation in many creative ways with an emphasis on contemporary theology, social justice and world peace. Under his leadership, PVCC established the first interracial childcare center in Kansas and helped to begin the first integrated public schools in Wichita. Pine Valley was a pioneer in welcoming members of the LGBT community. Bill worked tirelessly in the Peace Movement. He led the church in racial justice ministries and was a member of the African American Ministerial League. He led PVCC in sponsoring refugee families from Chile and Vietnam and helped sponsor a Sister City relationship with a village in El Salvador. He served as president of the Ministers and Mates State Association of the Christian Church and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Phillips Theological Seminary. He continued his commitment to youth ministries throughout his career and as Director of the Christian Church International Youth Affairs Seminar taking twenty five to thirty high school youth to New York city and Washington DC for sixteen years. He also was a Planned Parent Board Member as well as serving on several other community organizations. He taught a course on Comparative Religions at Wichita State University. Upon his retirement from PVCC he and his wife became members of North Heights Christian Church. During this time he established the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in Kansas as a program of Wichita Interfaith Ministries. In retirement, he and Ginny moved to Phoenix for several years and enjoyed traveling throughout the U. S., Mexico and Europe. Bill is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Virginia L. Reece; and his daughter, Rebecca S. Parsons. He is survived by his children, Cynthia J. Reece, Jonathan T. Reece, and James S. Reece; seven grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren Memorial Service will be at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Pine Valley Christian Church, 5620 E. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67208. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.