Willard was born on a Mormon homestead near Colonia Dublan in Mexico to George Lake, a colonizer and missionary for the Church.
His grandfather, James Lake joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1832 and was married to Philomena Smith, the Prophet Joseph Smith's cousin.
Willard was 10 when his father died. "When my father died, it was a hardship for my mother in trying to take care of the family" he said. He rode horses and herded cattle most of the time after that. He attended a Church academy in Mexico for 13 months, all the schooling he was able to obtain.
Willard married at age 20 to Charlotte Gruell and established a farm in Colonia Daiz.
During this time, Pancho Villa was leading rebel forces against the Mexican government forces. According to Willard, the members had to side with the rebels in order to survive. He rode with Pancho Villa for six weeks herding cattle.
"Pancho Villa was a prince of a fellow," he said dryly, "but he made you look down the barrel of his gun.
"I never tried to go against him, I knew better than that.
"He came into my place and said, 'I heard you got a bunch of beans. I want half of them.'
"I asked why just half? Why dot all? He said he could get along with half, so he took them.
"Then he asked me to ride with him on a roundup 50 miles east of the town. So I went. I followed 55 head of cattle. He was quit a character. After I got through with him there, he got one more big, fat cow from me and that was the last time I saw him for a while, He kind of just let me live."
At 26, he fled with his wife and two tiny children from the Mexican revolutionaries. At 43, he lost his business and possessions in the depression. At 55, his wife died of a brain tumor. He remarried at 56 and had three more
children.
In 1969 he watched in disbelief as television showed men walk on the moon.
Willard was an active and faithful member of the church all his life.