Dale R. Willis

Dale R. Willis, 76, of rural Mt. Pleasant and the Lockridge community, died Saturday, Jan. 26, at his home.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mt. Pleasant with the Rev. Monte Knudson and Pastor Mike Furlong officiating. Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery in Rome, with full military honors.

A memorial has been established and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.beattymurphyfh.com.

He was born Feb. 26, 1931, in Henry County, the son of Thomas and Lena Watson Willis. On Dec. 27, 1951, he married Patricia Millspaugh in Mt. Pleasant.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant, he worked for Waters Implement and later at T.H.E. Company until his retirement. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Moose, where he served as administrator and governor for a number of years, and a member of the Faith Christian Outreach Church and the VFW, all of Mt. Pleasant.

He is survived by three daughters, Cheryl L. Brady of Fairbanks, Alaska, Terrie L. Howell of Mt. Pleasant, and Roberta D. Furlong of Calif.; one son, William T. Willis of Mt. Pleasant; one sister, Helen Moehle of Stockport; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

His parents, wife, and sister Hazel preceded him in death.