WHITE STONE—Jackson David (J.D.) Willett, 94, of White Stone passed away peacefully Friday, July 31, 2026, at Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital, surrounded by family.
He was born March 13, 1932, in Hardy, Ark., to David and Marie Willett, the eldest of three sons. He joined the U.S. Navy and served his country as a radarman on the USS Uhlmann during the Korean War.
He began his aviation career as an air traffic controller under the newly-created Federal Aviation Administration before flying corporate jets and ultimately joining United Airlines as an airline pilot in 1966. He retired as a 757/767 captain from UAL in 1992.
He had a wide range of interests and hobbies. From a very young age, he read voraciously and was a life-long learner. His love of the water was reflected in his years of sailing and boating with friends and family. With his wife, he spent many of his retirement years traveling across Europe, immersing himself in local culture. He was passionate about classic sports cars, particularly Jaguars and Porsches, attending numerous car shows and rallies from the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California to LeMans. His green thumb was evident to anyone who visited his home and he enjoyed working in the garden.
He was a member of the Rappahannock River Yacht Club, Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club and Memory Lane Car Club.
He was a devoted husband and father and cherished time spent with his family. He will be remembered for his limitless intellectual curiosity, his sense of humor and his work ethic.
J.D. is survived by Patsy Willett, his loving wife of 65 years; his daughter, Elizabeth Willett of Mechanicsville; his daughter, Suzanne Willett of Glen Allen; and his brothers, William Willett of Clinton, Mo., and Harold Willett of Black Rock, Ark.
A private funeral service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., or Heifer International.
