Roy Steven Willoughby
Roy Steven Willoughby, known as Steve, “Groundhog,” or “Big Willy,” was born February 2, 1948 in Charlotte, MI. He passed away unexpectedly at his home (where he felt most at peace) on October 20, 2023 in Battle Creek, MI. Steve grew up in the Olivet/Charlotte area for the majority of his life before ending up in Battle Creek. He also spent time in Indiana, Missouri, and Florida.
If you knew Steve for long, more than likely you knew two sides of him! There was the ride or die guy who would do anything for you. Then the short tempered, angry guy who wasn’t afraid to show this no matter who the heck you were!
Steve volunteered for the draft at 17, and eventually served with the U.S. Army Combat Engineers. He was initially deployed to Germany, but ultimately volunteered to go to Vietnam. After coming home, Steve spent most of his life keeping his two sides separated, not knowing how to control one or the other for a happy medium. It was an endless struggle to get back to the person he used to be.
Although he served his country with honor, pride, and devotion, he came back a different man, and struggled with the reality of this for the rest of his living days. One of the very first jobs Steve had was working at Moore’s Glass/Gas Station in Charlotte, MI. After the war, Steve became a drive attendant for Ambulance Service Comp. until triggers from PTSD started to make this job, relationships, and daily life very difficult to cope with. From plumbing and various cable jobs, to driving semis, Steve tried his best to be a contributing person in society. While wanting to pursue higher jobs at officer/leader levels, the PTSD that plagued him would never allow this to happen for Steve. However, he did go back and get his GED as an adult and was very proud of this accomplishment, as was his family.
If you knew Steve, you knew he would never pass down a good time or the chance to be wild and crazy! You knew he was most in his element when he was strumming an air guitar with a pool stick to the sound of his favorite tune… Steve loved the sound of a good tune. Or better yet, the sound of a good tune turned up loudly!! Some of the things he loved were playing pool, entering his cars into car shows, grilling at his house while his favorite flags flew above, and music blasted from his radio. Steve especially enjoyed the freedom he fought for on an open road in his 1971 El Camino SS or one of the many Harleys he had throughout his life. When he was able to do that, he was living his best life!
Steve would go on to become proud of his sobriety. An “Occasional” drinker after the war is something his family thought they’d never see. Him being able to fight this urge is something they were all very proud of. It was a choice he made but didn’t have to. Doing that and being able to say Adios to cigarettes were some of his great accomplishments! To love Steve was to also know what came along with that, and at times that wasn’t easy. Love him or not, he left a lasting impression on many! He was who he was, take it or leave it! He didn’t care what you thought of him or his biker looking persona! He was a proud member of The Rolling Thunder non-profit P.O.W./M.I.A. Awareness Group, an advocacy group that seeks to bring full accountability for prisoners of war. He wore these badges and others with honor on a black leather vest he had. Rarely would he ride on a bike without it!
He was proud that he served his country.
Proud to be an American.
Proud of his children.
Proud to have lived his life on his own terms and therefore no one else’s!
It may have been a life that only he understood and knew, but it was a life “lived.”
A true testament to his bravery, and a sacrifice he made each and every day.
His mind is now at peace…
He is whole again.
Steve is preceded in death by his mother, Peggy Modena Bruce; father, Thomas Bruce Jr.; and brother, Gary Willoughby. He is survived by his daughters, Starla and Katrina Willoughby; grandchildren, Ashley VanSplintern, Kaylyn (Nicholas) Jewell, and Mackenzie Griffith; great-grandchildren, Paris, Niko, Natalie, Sophia, Novi, and Jaxtyn; brother, John (Toni) Willoughby; sister-in-law, Sherry Willoughby; former son-in-law, Chad VanSplintern; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Per Steve’s requests there will be no formal funeral. The family will be joining him at his final resting place with a military send off at a later date and time. In honor of Steve or in lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to any local non-profit organization of your choosing that specializes in PTSD for military veterans, or Oaklawn Hospice in Marshall, MI. Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Springport Funeral Home, 121 Pearl St./P.O. Box 235. Springport, Michigan 49284. 517-857-4848.