Ralph Leonard Willis, age 95, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2005 at his home in Mount Vernon with his family at his side. He was born June 10, 1909 in Kittyton, Unicoi County, Tennessee to Arthur and Jannett Bean Willis.
His family left Tennessee to homestead in Dawson County, Montana in 1914 and later moved to Big Lake, Washington in 1918. Ralph attended high school in Sedro-Woolley and Anacortes, graduating in 1929. He was married to Mildred F. Stanley in Anacortes in 1934 where he was employed by E.K. Wood Lumber Co. and it’s successor, Walton Lumber Co. until 1947. Ralph moved to Sedro-Woolley in 1948 to become co-founder of the Willis, Rogers & Pearson Lumber Co. of Sedro-Woolley continuing in business there until his retirement in 1973. The family enjoyed traveling and spending winter months in Palm Desert, CA where his wife Mildred died in 1982.
Ralph served as Chief Observer, Aircraft Warning Service US Army Fourth Fighter Command, Anacortes Post during WWII. He also served on the Sedro-Woolley School Board from 1960-1970, the Sedro-Woolley Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Board of Directors of West Coast Lumbermen’s Assn. of Portland, OR, Board of Directors and President of Red Cedar Shingle & Shake Bureau of Seattle, and a past member of the Washington Athletic Club. Ralph was a member of the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club since 1948, serving as President from 1958-1959. His club honored him with the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1996. Ralph was also a long time member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, having served as Trustee during the construction of the church on College Way and later on the Deacon Board.
He married the former Helen L. Wicklund of Mount Vernon in 1983 and had resided there since.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Ray Willis of Bremerton, sisters Fay Brumagen of San Miguel, CA and Kathleen Swartwood of LaConner, sisters’s-in-law, Shirley Willis of Mesa, AZ and Frances Willis of Spokane, and a nephew, R. James Willis of Spokane.
Survivors include his wife Helen at the family home, daughters Lorraine Kalles of Mount Vernon and Linda and her husband C.R. Bob Inman of Yuma, AZ, a son Ralph Willis and his wife Gwendolyn of Bellingham, WA., brothers Russell Willis of Mesa, ZA and Alden Willis of Salome, AZ, grandchildren Bill, Ronald and James Kalles, Jeri Humen, Bonnie and Jannette Brigham, Deanna Howard, Dawn Van Pelt, and Joseph, Elaina and Corrina Willis. Twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great- grandchildren.
Graveside Services and Interment will be held Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 1:00PM at the Grandview Cemetery in Anacortes with Pastor Rand O’Donnell of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon officiating. Following the service, there will be an informal gathering to celebrate his life at the First United Methodist Church, 1607 E. Division, Mount Vernon, WA beginning at 2:30PM. Memorials are suggested to Skagit Hospice Foundation, 2031 A Hospital Dr Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.