Tysons Corner Mourns Loss of Will Fairbanks, Charter President
Willis L. Fairbanks, a Marine Corps officer in World War II who went on to serve at the highest levels of NATO and later served as Charter President of the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner, died Aug. 14 after a short illness. He was 95 years old.
Will devoted 26 years to his country as a U.S. Marine, including two and a half years in the Pacific during World War II. During the Korean War he was stationed in Tokyo on the staff of the Commander of Naval Forces–Far East, and then on the flagship of the Commander of Amphibious Forces–Far East. From 1960 to 1963 Will served as Deputy of Infrastructure for NATO in Paris. He retired as a colonel in 1966.
Tributes to Will by his Rotary friends Rick Kaplar (Tysons Corner) and Bob Rosenbaum (McLean) can be viewed by clicking on the blue menu bar in the left column, "Tributes to Charter President Will Fairbanks."
After a storied military career, Will owned the McLean Clock Shop from 1970 to 1978. He joined Rotary in 1975, and served as president of the Rotary Club of McLean before helping form the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner. The Club was chartered, with Will as president, on April 12, 1983.
Will is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nell, and three children, Candy, Debbie, and Gary. A ceremony will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in September.