Obituaries

William S. Willis

Died June 22, 2015

 

TRAVERSE CITY – William Stoddard Willis, 90, of Traverse City, died Monday, June 22, 2015 at Boardman Lake Glens.

 

  William was born on Feb. 27, 1925 in Indianapolis, the son of William Henry and Ethel Charlotte (Stoddard) Willis.  On June 14, 1947, in Indianapolis, he married Mary Grace French, who preceded him in death on March 5, 2002.

 

  Bill lived a full, happy, and fruitful life.  He was educated in the public schools of Indianapolis where he excelled academically and artistically.  After high school graduation, he entered college at Tri-State University.  He joined the Navy ROTC, eventually graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He then entered the Navy, serving as an Ensign on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, until his discharge at the end of the war.  He began his engineering career working for Allison Engine Company, designing aircraft engines.  After several years, he moved to the General Electric Company in Evendale, (Cincinnati) OH where he continued as a preliminary design engineer in the jet engine division of that company, gaining several patents for various jet engine components. After a respected career, he retired and moved with his wife, Mary, to Little Traverse Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan, where he lived the remainder of his days.  He especially enjoyed time at the lake, declaring that there was no better place in the world to live.

 

  Bill was always known to friends and family as a kind gentleman. He had a keen intellect, and kept his mind active with crossword and other puzzles until his death.  He viewed the world with a scientific, engineer’s mentality, analyzing problems and declaring proper solutions.  As a depression era child, he would never throw anything out that didn’t work, but would fix and rebuild things, making them last, seemingly, forever.  He also had a remarkable artistic talent, winning several contests as a child.  In his retirement years, he carved realistic birds, fish, and duck decoys.  He was an avid reader, a competitive duplicate bridge player, a civil war enthusiast, interested traveller, genealogy buff, a frustrated golfer, and an accomplished fisherman.  But he especially enjoyed his time with his family, happily watching his grandchildren grow into adulthood.  Eventually, the ravages of time wore out his body, but not his spirit.  He will be missed greatly by friends and family alike.

 

  William is survived by his children, David O. (Patricia) Willis of Louisville, Ky., Richard J. Willis of Lakeside Park Ky.; and three grandchildren, William, Sara, and Ashley Marie, two step-grandchildren (Kristi and Matt), as well as three great grand children.

 

  In addition to his wife of 54 years, William is preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Virginia Willis.

 

A private service is planned for family and close friends.  Burial will be at Cleveland Township Cemetery.

 

Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy, c/o Swanson Preserve, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654.

 

The family would like to thank the staff at Boardman Lake Glens, the staff of Hospice of Michigan, and especially Laura Osborne, his care -giver for the past three years, for their acts of kindness to Bill (“Grandpa”) at the end of his life’s journey.

 

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