Taylor Co., TX - Obituaries - John Todd Willis, Jr. *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Brad Willis Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** Willis, John Todd, Jr. John Todd Willis, Jr., age 74, of Waco, died Friday in a local hospital. Services at 2:00 P.M. Saturday at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church with Dr. Bill Boyd, Dr. John Wood and the Rev. Msgr. Mark Deering officiating, burial at Oakwood Cemetery. Born May 17, 1921 in Waco, son of John T. and Clara Evans Willis. Graduate of Waco High School and Texas A & M College. Served in the U.S. Army in Italy, Bermuda and North Africa during WWII. Mr. Willis was the owner of Sanders-Willis Co. of Waco. On Feb. 2, 1952, he married Hester M. Beck at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. A fourth-generation Wacoan, he was a descendant of Gardner S. and Isadore Causey Sleeper, and William G. and Sarah Baker Evans, who settled in McLennan County during the 1870s. He has served on the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Men’s Forum Class at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Survivors: wife, Hester Willis of Waco; two sons, Dr. Todd Bradford Willis of Waco, David Parker Willis and wife, Carol S. Willis of Houston; two grandchildren, David Parker Willis, Jr. of Houston and Laura Anne Willis of Houston. Pallbearers: Carl Carpenter, Barker Chapman, Vance Dunnam, Sr., Charles Kendrick, Gardner Kendrick, Jack Kendrick, James Kendrick, Dr. Joseph Lattimore, Herman Quinius, Shelby Scott. Honorary Pallbearers: Wayne Bennett, Vernon Platt, John Stacks, R. L. Marstaller, Walt Winters and members of the Forum Class at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. The family will be at 5017 Lockwood, Dr. Brad Willis’ home. Memorials to a favorite charity. -Waco Tribune-Herald. December 16, 1995. John Todd Willis Jr. John Todd Willis Jr. of Waco, a local businessman, died Friday at a local hospital. He was 74. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, Dr. Bill Boyd, Dr. John Wood and the Rev. Msgr. Mark Deering officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Mr. Willis was born May 17, 1921, in Waco and graduated from Waco High School and Texas A&M University. He served in the U.S. Army in Italy, Bermuda and North Africa during World War II and was the owner of Sanders - Willis Co. of Waco. He married Hester M. Beck on Feb. 2, 1952, in Waco. He was a fourth-generation Waco resident and a descendant of Gardner S. and Isadore Causey Sleeper and William G. and Sarah Baker Evans, who settled in McLennan County in the 1870s. Mr. Willis served on the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Men’s Forum Class at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church and the Sons of the American Revolution. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dr. Todd Bradford Willis of Waco and David Parker Willis of Houston; and two grandchildren. The family will be at the residence of Dr. Brad Willis, 5017 Lockwood. Memorials may be made to the donor’s favorite charity. Wilkirson-Hatch Funeral Home of Waco is in charge of arrangements. -Waco Tribune-Herald. December 16, 1995.