William "Bill" Vilott, 74, died at his home in Tulsa on August 6, 2023. Brief memorial services will be held at 10am on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Memorial Chapel, 2103 E. 3rd Street, Tulsa.

"Mr. Bill," as he became known to countless people throughout the years, was born July 17, 1949 to James Vilott and Carolyn (Cauble) Vilott. Over the years Bill wore many hats, buying and selling cars at auction for fun and profit, owning an optical shop, traveling the country in an RV, and becoming a licensed helicopter pilot. A tinkerer by nature, he received his airframe mechanic's license and went on to become a vocational education teacher for over 30 years, first at Spartan School of Aeronautics and then Tulsa Technology Center. Teaching became an everlasting passion of his; his calm demeanor, willingness to explain something a dozen different ways, and unbelievable patience were perfectly suited to the task. Never having graduated college himself, he was exceptionally proud to have touched the lives of thousands of students just like him who crossed his path and found a career as a result.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Candyce "Candy" Vilott, of Tulsa; his daughter, Valerie Vilott and her partner, Ashlin Furey, of Omaha, NE; and dozens of dear friends and caregivers who loved him deeply and for whom he would move mountains.

Bill was pretty talkative for a self-professed introvert and ferociously independent up to the end. He never met an air-cooled engine he couldn't diagnose or an old black-and-white western he wouldn't watch for the hundredth time. He beat cancer three times; the fourth time, unfortunately, it got the better of him.

In lieu of flowers, Bill's family requests donations be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation www.pcf.org.