Theodore "Ted" Alexander Willis

Funeral services for Theodore Alexander “Ted” Willis will be held on Saturday, June 24th, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Brother Reed officiating. Visitation for Ted will be on Friday, June 23rd, 2017 from noon until 6:00 Pm at Reed-Culver Chapel. Interment will be held at Pumpkin Hollow Cemetery. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Ted include Benjamin Mayes, Ted Mayes, Arlen Hamby, Jeffery Hamby, and James Hamby, Alex Marsh, Michael Couts, and Robert Batchelor.

Theodore Alexander Willis (or Ted to his friends and family), was born on June 1st, 1920 in Proctor, OK, the son of Almus Frank and Stella Mae (Beaver) Willis. He attended school near his home in Pumpkin Hollow. With the advent of WWII, he was drafted in the US Army and served his country honorably. He was the proud Daddy of five daughters Sue, Bluie, Kaye, Margie, Debbie and one son, Leslie. The family lived in the Houston area where Ted was a shop foreman welding for Geospace Corporation of Houston. On November 29th, 1961 he married, Naomi Whaler. They would spend the next 53 years together. The family would return to green country to retire and enjoy the Welling Community. Ted loved Welling and especially the fire department. He volunteered for 32 years. Every day he would work in his shop and make wooden toys, at least one a day. These in turn were given to children around the Christmas season. He played Santa Claus for the children every year. He loved giving toys to the children. The extra toys were sold at craft shows.

Ted and Naomi enjoyed meeting people and selling their crafts. Ted enjoyed fishing, and spending a little time out in the fresh air. Naomi liked gardening, so Ted would join her raising vegetables and flowers. He had a great sense of humor and always had a quick comeback. Even when hospitalized, the doctors soon learned the question and answer session with Ted could be quite entertaining. Through rain or shine, Ted was there for his wife, children and grandchildren. He lost his wife Naomi in 2014, and Ted’s health began to fail. He passed from this life on June 20th, 2017 at his home in Welling with his loving children by his side. Ted was 97 years old. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father, wife and several brothers and sisters.

Those left to cherish Ted’s memory include his children, Sue Ann Guest and husband Glenn of Houston, Bluie Mayes of Ft. Gibson, Kaye English of Houston, Margie Batchelor and husband Robert of Missouri City, Tx, Debbie Marsh and husband Roger of Pearland, Tx, and Leslie Willis of the home in Welling. His brothers and sisters include Dora, Manda, Cynthia, Nannie, Lilly, Johnny, Jessie, Jim, Bill, Delbert, and Dan. Ted lives on through his thirteen grandchildren, Douglas Roberts, Rebecca Roberts-Hearn, Charlotte White, Joseph Roberts, Michael Couts, Benjamin Mayes, Theodore Mayes, Hurshel Hamby, Jeffery Hamby, Arlen Hamby, Rebecca Spears, James Hamby, and Alex Marsh. He leaves 14 great grandchildren, Joshua Roberts, Rebecca Ledet, Scott Roberts, Jodie White, Jeremy White, Billy Hearn, Katherine Mayes, Molly Higgins, James Higgins, Brittany Hamby, Christopher Hamby, Angel Hamby, Timothy Hamby, and Zander Marsh. He also has 13 great great grandchildren, Brandon Roberts, Blake Roberts, Bryleigh Roberts, Jason White, Jack White, Jonah White, Xavier Ledet, Trevor Ledet, Ava Ledet, Asher Roberts, Laylah Roberts, Allysa Hearn, and Samuel Edward Bollich, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.