Laramie dentist and WWII veteran celebrates 101st birthday, community reflects

Bob Willis, a longtime Laramie resident and retired dentist, celebrated his 101st birthday on Jan. 10, 2026, drawing attention to a life that spans the Great Depression, World War II and decades of community care. A Purple Heart recipient, Willis survived being blown off a tank during the Battle of the Bulge and today keeps a small glass case with a Book of Mormon and a fragment of shrapnel as reminders of those years.

Born to Andrew and Amy Willis, his family moved to Laramie in 1929. After the war, Willis returned to build a career in dentistry and deep connections with the University of Wyoming and generations of local families. He shared wartime recollections and photos with friends and neighbors, but he deflects personal praise, summing up his past with a single line: "I’m just a survivor."

Willis's birthday is more than a personal milestone. In a county where rural health access and aging services are ongoing concerns, his story highlights practical public health and social equity issues. Older veterans face higher rates of chronic illness, mobility challenges and mental health needs linked to trauma. Meanwhile, gaps in dental coverage for seniors persist nationally and locally; Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care, leaving many elders to pay out of pocket for preventive services that affect overall health.

For Albany County, Willis's life is a reminder of the importance of coordinated senior supports: home-based primary care, accessible oral health services, mental health outreach for veterans, and transportation to medical appointments. Local institutions including the county veterans office and university programs can play a role in connecting older residents to benefits and clinics, and volunteers and caregivers remain key to maintaining social ties that protect health and well-being.

As one of the region's remaining World War II veterans, Willis embodies living history and a community responsibility. His modesty and steady presence encourage conversations across generations: about sacrifice, about the everyday work of keeping older neighbors healthy and connected, and about policy gaps that leave some seniors vulnerable.

Our two cents? Stop by if you can, check in with the elders on your block, and push for local solutions that make health care—medical, mental and dental—easier to access for veterans and seniors alike.