2009-01-27
Collection: 2009
Title
2009-01-27
Subject
Allen, WIllis Elbert
Description
Obituaries published in the Augusta Daily Gazette
Creator
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas]
Publisher
Augusta Public Library, Augusta, Kansas, USA
Date
20009-01-29
Rights
In Copyright
Format
Clippings
Language
English
Type
application/pdf
Identifier
b14#12 2009
Citation
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas], “2009-01-27,” Digital Augusta, accessed May 16, 2024, https://augusta.digitalsckls.info/item/1858.
Text
Willis Elbert Allen
Willis Elbert Allen, 77, Douglass, died Tuesday, Jan. 27,2009.
Visitation with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday art Hilyard-Smith Funeral Home 507
S. Maple, Douglass and also, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 303 E. 4th,
Douglass; funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. at the church and burial will follow at Douglass Cemetery.
Willis was born on Oct. 15,1931, the son of Willis Edwin and Elva Emma Christina (Carlman) Allen in Douglass. He was a 1950 graduate of Douglass High School. After high school Willis worked along side his dad at House Hardware until he was drafted into the Army
on his 21st birthday. Willis spent nine months at Fort Still, Okla, and
nine months as a Colonel’s orderly in the
ranama Lanai Zone during the Korean War.
Willis took advantage of the GI Bill and began his education at Butler County Jr. College and later transferred to Pittsburg State. While at Pittsburg he went to a dance and met his future wife, Sue Ellen Hans, and they started dating. In 1961, Willis completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. After college Willis worked for WT Grant department store in Kansas City, Kan., working for 1 V2 years as a manager in training. In 1963, he returned to Douglass and began working at Beechcraft in Wichita. On July 21,1963, he married Sue. In 1969, the family moved briefly to Lindsborg, so Willis could work at the Salina Beechcraft plant. The family permanently re-
turned to Douglass, and Willis began working for Jarvis Auto Supply in Augusta for a year, before starting work at the Coleman Company in 1972. He worked there until he retired in 1994. In 2004, Sue passed away, after an extended illness. Her absence was grieved extensively and Willis’ physical and mental health deteriorated and he was forced to move to a series of medical and long-term care facilities in the Wichita and Kansas City ar.eas. Willis was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church-Dou-glass. He served for decades as a church elder and also taught children’s Sunday school for many years. Willis was a life long member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal lodge of which he has served in local leadership positions. For many years, he was a member of the Odd Fellow’s bowling team. In earlier years, he enjoyed roller skating at the Augusta Roller Rink. He
also enjoyed doing projects around the house, vegetable gardening and raising steers and chickens on his property. Willis and Sue enjoyed traveling, visiting extended family around the country and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include: son, Eric (Elizabeth) Allen, Leawood; daughter, Annette (Tom) Bollig, Overland Park; grandchildren, Helen and T. J. Bollig, Zachary and Nichole Allen; brother-in-law, Jesse Spencer, Douglass; niece, Janet (John) Shearer, Wichita; nephew, Jerry (Janice) Spencer, Douglass.
Willis was also preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Spencer.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established with First Christian Church, 303 E. 4th, Douglass, KS 67039.
Send condolences and view tributes via smith-familymortuaries.com
Original Format
Published with permission of copyright holder. Further reproduction prohibited.
Title
2009-01-27
Subject
Allen, WIllis Elbert
Description
Obituaries published in the Augusta Daily Gazette
Creator
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas]
Publisher
Augusta Public Library, Augusta, Kansas, USA
Date
20009-01-29
Rights
In Copyright
Format
Clippings
Language
English
Type
application/pdf
Identifier
b14#12 2009
Citation
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas], “2009-01-27,” Digital Augusta, accessed May 16, 2024, https://augusta.digitalsckls.info/item/1858.Text
Willis Elbert Allen
Willis Elbert Allen, 77, Douglass, died Tuesday, Jan. 27,2009.
Visitation with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday art Hilyard-Smith Funeral Home 507
S. Maple, Douglass and also, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 303 E. 4th,
Douglass; funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. at the church and burial will follow at Douglass Cemetery.
Willis was born on Oct. 15,1931, the son of Willis Edwin and Elva Emma Christina (Carlman) Allen in Douglass. He was a 1950 graduate of Douglass High School. After high school Willis worked along side his dad at House Hardware until he was drafted into the Army
on his 21st birthday. Willis spent nine months at Fort Still, Okla, and
nine months as a Colonel’s orderly in the
ranama Lanai Zone during the Korean War.
Willis took advantage of the GI Bill and began his education at Butler County Jr. College and later transferred to Pittsburg State. While at Pittsburg he went to a dance and met his future wife, Sue Ellen Hans, and they started dating. In 1961, Willis completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. After college Willis worked for WT Grant department store in Kansas City, Kan., working for 1 V2 years as a manager in training. In 1963, he returned to Douglass and began working at Beechcraft in Wichita. On July 21,1963, he married Sue. In 1969, the family moved briefly to Lindsborg, so Willis could work at the Salina Beechcraft plant. The family permanently re-
turned to Douglass, and Willis began working for Jarvis Auto Supply in Augusta for a year, before starting work at the Coleman Company in 1972. He worked there until he retired in 1994. In 2004, Sue passed away, after an extended illness. Her absence was grieved extensively and Willis’ physical and mental health deteriorated and he was forced to move to a series of medical and long-term care facilities in the Wichita and Kansas City ar.eas. Willis was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church-Dou-glass. He served for decades as a church elder and also taught children’s Sunday school for many years. Willis was a life long member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal lodge of which he has served in local leadership positions. For many years, he was a member of the Odd Fellow’s bowling team. In earlier years, he enjoyed roller skating at the Augusta Roller Rink. He
also enjoyed doing projects around the house, vegetable gardening and raising steers and chickens on his property. Willis and Sue enjoyed traveling, visiting extended family around the country and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include: son, Eric (Elizabeth) Allen, Leawood; daughter, Annette (Tom) Bollig, Overland Park; grandchildren, Helen and T. J. Bollig, Zachary and Nichole Allen; brother-in-law, Jesse Spencer, Douglass; niece, Janet (John) Shearer, Wichita; nephew, Jerry (Janice) Spencer, Douglass.
Willis was also preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Spencer.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established with First Christian Church, 303 E. 4th, Douglass, KS 67039.
Send condolences and view tributes via smith-familymortuaries.com
Original Format
Published with permission of copyright holder. Further reproduction prohibited.