Robert E. "Bud" Willis, 85, of rural Chetopa, died at 3:46 p.m., Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.
He was born July 15, 1927, in Chetopa, Kansas, to James A. and Grace (Wright) Willis. He was a 1945 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.
Following high school, he served in the United States Navy. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas where he worked at Goodrich Corporation in Miami, Oklahoma, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, and Chetopa Concrete until retiring.
He attended the Community Bible Church in Chetopa and was an avid participant in the community and will be missed by many.
He and Mary Ann "Peggy" Castle were married in 1958. They later divorced. On February 14, 1981, he married Myrna Castle in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on July 6, 2010.
Survivors include:
One Son – Robert "Buddy" Willis Oswego, KS
Two Daughters – Pamela Jones Denver, CO
Valarie Ann Lawrence Wichita Falls, TX
Three Stepsons – Gary Castle Kansas City, KS
Larry Castle Humboldt, KS
Rick Castle Chetopa, KS
One Stepdaughter – Regina Curnutte Oswego, KS
Six Grandchildren
Ten Step-Grandchildren
Six Great-Grandchildren
Nine Step-Great-Grandchildren
One Brother – Glen Smith and wife, Marilyn Buckeye, AZ
Two Sisters – Ruth Miller Chetopa, KS
Donna Benson Lake Jackson, TX
Numerous Nieces, Nephews and Cousins
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by one sister; one son, Donnie Willis; and one step-great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 12, 2012, at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3-4:00 p.m., Sunday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10:00 a.m., on Sunday.
Memorials are suggested to the Community Bible Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert E. "Bud" Willis, please visit our flower store.
He was born July 15, 1927, in Chetopa, Kansas, to James A. and Grace (Wright) Willis. He was a 1945 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.
Following high school, he served in the United States Navy. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Southeast Kansas where he worked at Goodrich Corporation in Miami, Oklahoma, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, and Chetopa Concrete until retiring.
He attended the Community Bible Church in Chetopa and was an avid participant in the community and will be missed by many.
He and Mary Ann "Peggy" Castle were married in 1958. They later divorced. On February 14, 1981, he married Myrna Castle in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on July 6, 2010.
Survivors include:
One Son – Robert "Buddy" Willis Oswego, KS
Two Daughters – Pamela Jones Denver, CO
Valarie Ann Lawrence Wichita Falls, TX
Three Stepsons – Gary Castle Kansas City, KS
Larry Castle Humboldt, KS
Rick Castle Chetopa, KS
One Stepdaughter – Regina Curnutte Oswego, KS
Six Grandchildren
Ten Step-Grandchildren
Six Great-Grandchildren
Nine Step-Great-Grandchildren
One Brother – Glen Smith and wife, Marilyn Buckeye, AZ
Two Sisters – Ruth Miller Chetopa, KS
Donna Benson Lake Jackson, TX
Numerous Nieces, Nephews and Cousins
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by one sister; one son, Donnie Willis; and one step-great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 12, 2012, at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3-4:00 p.m., Sunday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10:00 a.m., on Sunday.
Memorials are suggested to the Community Bible Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert E. "Bud" Willis, please visit our flower store.
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