WILMER N. WILLIS

Wilmer Willis

Wilmer N. Willis, 85, of Table Grove died at 12:44 a.m. June 15, 2014, at OSF St. Francis in Peoria.

He was born Aug. 3, 1928, in Macomb, a son of Frank B. and Christine Clemens Willis. He married Ina M. Davis on Jan. 20, 1962, in Rushville. She survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Frank A. (and Lori) Willis of Canton, Reginald Willis of Oak Run and Steven (and Barbara) Willis of St. Charles, Mo.; one daughter, Kristina (and Danny) White of Smithfield; one brother, Frank (and Mary Jo) Willis of Fairview; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Richard; and one brother, Reginald.

He worked in the family lumberyard and construction business in Table Grove. He also worked for Harvard University and their Harvard Radio Meteor Scattering project in Havana. He became a math and physics teacher, teaching at Joliet, Spoon River Valley, Buda Western and Carthage. He retired from teaching and worked at Western Illinois University in Academic Computer Support. He last was a substitute teacher, mostly teaching in Macomb schools.

He was a Korean War veteran, serving from 1951-52 with a rank of CPL (T).

He was a member of Vermont Masonic Lodge, Table Grove American Legion, Ipava American Legion, 40 et 8 in Canton, National Education Association, Illinois Education Association and Western Illinois University Alumni Association.

He attended Smithfield Church of the Nazarene.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria with Rev. Layton Malone and Pastor Dean Potts officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday with Masonic services held at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Harris Cemetery in Table Grove with military rites provided by Ipava American Legion.

Memorials may be made to Vermont Masonic Lodge or McDonough County Transport.

Condolences may be sent to www.shawgomemorialhome.org.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 6/18/2014