Theodore George Wille (Ted), age 87 of Crossville, TN passed away on Tuesday evening,
December 9, 2025 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Crossville, Tennessee.
He was born on September 2, 1938 in Granite City, Ill. The son of the late Roland Theodore
Wille and Mildred Anna (Herman) Wille.
Ted was a graduate of Collinsville, High School in Collinsville, Ill in 1956, and then attended 1
year at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, where his parents had just moved.
After feeling the call into the ministry he attended and graduated from Baptist Bible College,
Springfield, MO, Class of 1960. Ted started Faith Baptist Church (now WestPark Baptist Church)
in Knoxville in January of 1961. He later pastored Temple Baptist Church in Manchester, TN;
First Baptist Church in Dover, NJ; and Great Lakes Baptist Temple in Flint, MI; before retiring in
2006. After retirement he was the interim pastor of Oaklawn Baptist Church in Crossville, TN,
for a short time. Ted also was a professor at Boston Baptist College from 1976-1983.
He is survived by: daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Anthony Anzalone of Crossville, TN;
grandchildren, Amanda (Mike) Lewis of Xenia, OH; Ashley (Shane) Coston of Warrensburg, MO;
Alexis (Jonathan) Taylor of Crossville, TN; Teddy Anzalone of Knoxville, TN; Carla Anzalone of
Crossville, TN; Matthew Anzalone of Antioch, Tennessee; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 sister,
Peggy (Lyle) Metzger of Clovis, NM. Along with many loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ted is preceded in death by his loving wife, Verneta Ann (Coleman)
Wille; his sister, Joyce Anna Rimmer; and his brother, Charles H. Wille.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held in early January, at Central Baptist Church in
Crossville, TN. For more information about the service you can contact the church. There will
be a visitation time prior to the service. Interment will be in Crossville City Cemetery.