David Oscar Will

David O. Will, age 78, of Hendersonville, TN, was received into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 4, 2022. Born October 22, 1943, in Scottsbluff, NE, he was the son of the late Oscar Albert Will and the late Helen Ruth Will.

David lived his life immersed in art, music and ministry. From the time he was a boy David was raised in a God centered home where he learned the value of hard work and the importance of family.

In church, David’s love of music and harmony led him to join trios and quartets and begin playing the trombone and upright base. This is also where, at the age of 14, he met the love of his life, Janice Faulkner. He entered talent contests and took first place for both instrumental and vocal solos at age 17.

After high school, David began working as an apprentice studio artist at an ad agency. Soon after attending a year at the Academy of Art in Chicago, he felt called into the ministry.  Because of his natural gift and promising future, he was urged to stay by the head of the academy.  But David soon enrolled in North Central Bible College in Minneapolis where he became a licensed minister and after a seven-year long courtship, he and Janice were married.

David then joined the Keystones Quartet touring with them for seven years and later joined The Statesmen and The Tribunes to follow. In 1976 while attending an Imperials concert, David was invited to sing during intermission. One of the founding members of The Imperials happened to be listening and on that very night he asked David to join the group. David and his family moved to Tennessee to begin an almost four decade singing career and ministry with The Imperials.

David was best known for his touching ballads “One More Song for You”, “You’re the Only Jesus” and the personally written “In the Same Old Fashioned Way”. He was also the recipient of three Grammy Awards, multiple Dove Awards and nominations during his career with The Imperials.

While cherishing his home life, where he would be found working on cars, crafting furniture, creating artwork, and spending much-needed time with his family, David was always called back to the road to share God’s Word and bring people to Christ. He was a devoted husband and a kind and loving father. He became a grandpa at the age of 66, one of the greatest joys of his life. David lived what he preached. He was a Godly man with a servant’s heart.

David is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janice Will; daughters, Lisa Will Brinker, Angela Will Smith and Nicole Will McDougal (Robert) and their 12-year-old daughter Vivian McDougal; sisters, June Olson and Ruthann Patch (LeRoy).

A celebration of David’s life will be held Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Christ Church-Wallace Chapel, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. with the service to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Mercy Multiplied, P.O. Box 111060, Nashville, TN 37222 in David’s memory. Arrangements by Lumen Cremation, Nashville, TN.

To plant a tree in memory of David Oscar Will, please visit our Tribute Store.