Robert Eugene "Bob" Willis, 86, of Parsons passed away at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Elmhaven East.
He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Galesburg to Merle and Eunice (Allen) Willis. As a young boy, he grew up in Galesburg where he attended schools and was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
On April 17, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Brown, at Galesburg Christian Church.
For a time, he worked at Shaw Manufacturing in Galesburg before joining the U.S. Army, serving two years in Okinawa, Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas and worked at Continental Can Co. in Coffeyville. He then worked for numerous years as a machinist at Dayton Superior in Parsons until his retirement.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. He was also a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Thayer and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Chanute. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, honey bee farming, repairing clocks and collecting antiques.
Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Betty Willis of the home; a sister, Merlene Manke of Tallahassee, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews that adored him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Lou Willis.
A graveside memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Galesburg to Merle and Eunice (Allen) Willis. As a young boy, he grew up in Galesburg where he attended schools and was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
On April 17, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Brown, at Galesburg Christian Church.
For a time, he worked at Shaw Manufacturing in Galesburg before joining the U.S. Army, serving two years in Okinawa, Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas and worked at Continental Can Co. in Coffeyville. He then worked for numerous years as a machinist at Dayton Superior in Parsons until his retirement.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. He was also a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Thayer and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Chanute. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, honey bee farming, repairing clocks and collecting antiques.
Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Betty Willis of the home; a sister, Merlene Manke of Tallahassee, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews that adored him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Lou Willis.
A graveside memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Robert Eugene "Bob" Willis, 86, of Parsons passed away at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Elmhaven East.
He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Galesburg to Merle and Eunice (Allen) Willis. As a young boy, he grew up in Galesburg where he attended schools and was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
On April 17, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Brown, at Galesburg Christian Church.
For a time, he worked at Shaw Manufacturing in Galesburg before joining the U.S. Army, serving two years in Okinawa, Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas and worked at Continental Can Co. in Coffeyville. He then worked for numerous years as a machinist at Dayton Superior in Parsons until his retirement.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. He was also a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Thayer and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Chanute. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, honey bee farming, repairing clocks and collecting antiques.
Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Betty Willis of the home; a sister, Merlene Manke of Tallahassee, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews that adored him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Lou Willis.
A graveside memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Galesburg to Merle and Eunice (Allen) Willis. As a young boy, he grew up in Galesburg where he attended schools and was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
On April 17, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Brown, at Galesburg Christian Church.
For a time, he worked at Shaw Manufacturing in Galesburg before joining the U.S. Army, serving two years in Okinawa, Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas and worked at Continental Can Co. in Coffeyville. He then worked for numerous years as a machinist at Dayton Superior in Parsons until his retirement.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. He was also a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Thayer and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Chanute. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, honey bee farming, repairing clocks and collecting antiques.
Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Betty Willis of the home; a sister, Merlene Manke of Tallahassee, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews that adored him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Lou Willis.
A graveside memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
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