Reared on a farm, Willis had fond memories of traveling with his father on the threshing machine ring and cutting and shocking corn by hand. Willis was a farmer and carpenter all his life, but he was also a truck driver and joined the United American Mechanics Lodge and American Trucking Association. His original farm house in Liberty Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, burned down.
In 1909, his two-year-old brother Darrell and their dog fell into a large, steep-sided cistern on the farm. Fortunately, their mother was nearby, saw what happened and screamed for Willis who was working in the fields. He made it to the cistern in time and pulled his brother and the dog out, thus saving their lives.
Willis was active in community affairs. He was a charter member of Liberty Grange, Van Wert County, a member of the Ohio City Liberty Board of Education for twelve years, belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and was a member of the Van Wert County Hospital Board. He was a Liberty Township trustee for ten years and was on the Republican Central Committee. He attended the Ohio City Church of God.
His hobbies included woodworking, reading and baseball. Willis credited his longevity to leading a clean life with no drinking or smoking, and passed away at the age of 94.
Willis married Verna Leona Clause and Ethel Mae Butler High.
In 1909, his two-year-old brother Darrell and their dog fell into a large, steep-sided cistern on the farm. Fortunately, their mother was nearby, saw what happened and screamed for Willis who was working in the fields. He made it to the cistern in time and pulled his brother and the dog out, thus saving their lives.
Willis was active in community affairs. He was a charter member of Liberty Grange, Van Wert County, a member of the Ohio City Liberty Board of Education for twelve years, belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and was a member of the Van Wert County Hospital Board. He was a Liberty Township trustee for ten years and was on the Republican Central Committee. He attended the Ohio City Church of God.
His hobbies included woodworking, reading and baseball. Willis credited his longevity to leading a clean life with no drinking or smoking, and passed away at the age of 94.
Willis married Verna Leona Clause and Ethel Mae Butler High.
Reared on a farm, Willis had fond memories of traveling with his father on the threshing machine ring and cutting and shocking corn by hand. Willis was a farmer and carpenter all his life, but he was also a truck driver and joined the United American Mechanics Lodge and American Trucking Association. His original farm house in Liberty Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, burned down.
In 1909, his two-year-old brother Darrell and their dog fell into a large, steep-sided cistern on the farm. Fortunately, their mother was nearby, saw what happened and screamed for Willis who was working in the fields. He made it to the cistern in time and pulled his brother and the dog out, thus saving their lives.
Willis was active in community affairs. He was a charter member of Liberty Grange, Van Wert County, a member of the Ohio City Liberty Board of Education for twelve years, belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and was a member of the Van Wert County Hospital Board. He was a Liberty Township trustee for ten years and was on the Republican Central Committee. He attended the Ohio City Church of God.
His hobbies included woodworking, reading and baseball. Willis credited his longevity to leading a clean life with no drinking or smoking, and passed away at the age of 94.
Willis married Verna Leona Clause and Ethel Mae Butler High.
In 1909, his two-year-old brother Darrell and their dog fell into a large, steep-sided cistern on the farm. Fortunately, their mother was nearby, saw what happened and screamed for Willis who was working in the fields. He made it to the cistern in time and pulled his brother and the dog out, thus saving their lives.
Willis was active in community affairs. He was a charter member of Liberty Grange, Van Wert County, a member of the Ohio City Liberty Board of Education for twelve years, belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and was a member of the Van Wert County Hospital Board. He was a Liberty Township trustee for ten years and was on the Republican Central Committee. He attended the Ohio City Church of God.
His hobbies included woodworking, reading and baseball. Willis credited his longevity to leading a clean life with no drinking or smoking, and passed away at the age of 94.
Willis married Verna Leona Clause and Ethel Mae Butler High.
