Willard Allen Speakman III, 67, of Greenville, DE, died suddenly in Antigua, British West Indies, on April 11, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Willard Allen Speakman III, 67, of Greenville, DE, died suddenly in Antigua, British West Indies, on April 11, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He received his B.A. degree from Princeton University in 1960, then completed his military service at Fort Benning, GA. He joined the Speakman Co., founded by his great-grandfather, in 1962 and in 1971 succeeded his father, Willard Allen Speakman Jr., as president. He became chairman in 1978 and remained in that position until his death. He promoted free market principles and ideas and was committed to education, reading and literacy. His personal hero was Winston Churchill. He took pride in his Quaker heritage. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie du Pont Bredin Speakman; a daughter, granddaughter, sister, nieces, a stepson and stepdaughter. Donations may be made in his name to the University of Delaware Library Associates, Morris Library, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19717-5267; the Mill Reef Fund, P.O. Box 133, Mill Reef, Antigua, B.W.I.; or the Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street, P.O. Box 808, Nantucket, MA 02554.