Van Devanter retired as a Supreme Court Justice on May 18, 1937, after Congress voted full pay for justices over seventy who retired.
 He acknowledged that he might have retired five years earlier due to illness, if not for his concern about New Deal legislation, and that he depended upon his salary.
In 1932, five years prior to Van Devanter's retirement, Congress had halved Supreme Court pensions.
Congress had temporarily restored them to full pay in February 1933, only to halve them again next month by the Economy Act.
He was the last serving Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Taft.
Van Devanter was replaced by Justice Hugo Black, appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

He died in Washington, D.C., and was buried there in Rock Creek Cemetery.
 His gravesite is marked by "a stark 'VAN DEVANTER' — nothing else" which tops the family plot.

At the turn of the century, Willis Van Devanter purchased Pate Island in the Woods Bay area of Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada.
He owned it until it was sold about 1939 to Senator Dennis.
T. Flynn of Oklahoma City.
He and his wife Dolly enjoyed their summers in an area that was a favorite summer retreat for members of the American legal fraternity.
Willis Van Devanter was a keen sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Van Devanter's personal and judicial papers are archived at the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, where they are available for research.
Van Devanter retired as a Supreme Court Justice on May 18, 1937, after Congress voted full pay for justices over seventy who retired.  He acknowledged that he might have retired five years earlier due to illness, if not for his concern about New Deal legislation, and that he depended upon his salary. In 1932, five years prior to Van Devanter's retirement, Congress had halved Supreme Court pensions. Congress had temporarily restored them to full pay in February 1933, only to halve them again next month by the Economy Act. He was the last serving Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Taft. Van Devanter was replaced by Justice Hugo Black, appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
He died in Washington, D.C., and was buried there in Rock Creek Cemetery.  His gravesite is marked by "a stark 'VAN DEVANTER' — nothing else" which tops the family plot.
At the turn of the century, Willis Van Devanter purchased Pate Island in the Woods Bay area of Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada. He owned it until it was sold about 1939 to Senator Dennis. T. Flynn of Oklahoma City. He and his wife Dolly enjoyed their summers in an area that was a favorite summer retreat for members of the American legal fraternity. Willis Van Devanter was a keen sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Van Devanter's personal and judicial papers are archived at the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, where they are available for research.
Willis Van Devanter