Richard E. Willis

Richard E. Willis, age 97, entered his eternal home on Saturday, October 3, 2020. Richard was born at home in Parsons, Kansas to Louis "Elmo" and Ida "May" Willis and raised on a farm in southern Neosho County. He was a 1942 graduate of Parsons High School. On September 6, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Ellen Pargen. They were married for 72 years before her passing in 2014. After high school, they attended Parsons Junior College and Richard entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. Richard was stationed in Europe and was one of the last ones to cross the bridge at Remagen. Under the GI Bill, Richard attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1954, he began a career at Ash Grove Cement Company, rising through the ranks and retiring as an Executive Vice President. Richard and Ellen lived in Overland Park for 33 years. During retirement they traveled extensively and attended many family events, living the last 20 years in Wichita. Richard was preceded in death by his brother, Robert and his wife, Verna, and sister, Johan Powers. He is survived by his brother, Rollin and wife, Laquetta Willis; children, Jeffrey and wife, Barbara Willis, Gregory and wife, Pam Willis; grandchildren, Andrew and wife, Anne Willis, Elizabeth and husband, Russ Radi, David and wife, Sabrina Willis, Adam and wife, Kiley Willis, Emily and husband, Nick Alderman, Nathan and wife, Cammie Willis, Katy and husband, Caleb Hekele; great grandchildren, Jackson, Grace, Eleanor, and Oliver Radi, Scarlett, Gunnar, and Hazel Willis, Wylan Willis, Austin Willis, Mercy, Mavis, and Millie Willis, Julia and Abby Alderman. Funeral service 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2020, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill Street, Wichita. Richard and his wife, Ellen will be laid to rest in a graveside service 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 8, at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Galesburg, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials are established with Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and Labette Community College - Richard & Ellen Willis Scholarship Fund. Funeral services will be livestreamed at Chapel Hill UMC at https://venue.streamspot.com/fc12ed67