Bill Bartley

Bill Bartley

Bill Bartley was and forever will be Mr. VITA. He began volunteering with VITA to prepare tax returns in 2002, becoming a site manager in 2005. As a retired volunteer, he had a lot of time and zeal to devote to expanding the availability of free tax preparation to the Bloomington-Normal community. In 2011, when our sponsoring organization reduced their scope, Bill initiated and created the Bloomington Normal VITA Foundation non-profit, serving as our first president. He said he would serve until he was 80 but didn't step down until 2020 at the age of 82. He continued to volunteer and mentor other volunteers until 2023.

Bill had an impact on nearly every volunteer to pass through VITA. Many of us were recruited directly by Bill and even more were mentored and supported by him as they learned more about the process. Bill passed down his vast knowledge of tax law, love for the clients, and desire to serve, which will ensure the continued success of VITA long after his departure. We will deeply miss his leadership and will always remember his labor to make our community a better place.

More information on Bill's life can be found in his obituary. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington. In recognition of his dedication and passion for VITA, Bill’s family generously designated the Bloomington Normal VITA Foundation as the recipient of memorials in his honor. Memorials can be made online through Paypal.