OBITUARY
Raymond Earl Willis, 72, of Morehead City, died Thursday, June 3, 2010, at Carteret General Hospital. He was born on October 7, 1937 in Morehead City to Earl Haywood Willis and Leah Dee Foy. Ray was a 1956 graduate of Morehead City High School as well as a graduate of Campbell College. He served 21 years of active duty in the United States Army retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ray served in Korea and the Dominican Republic before serving four tours of duty in Vietnam. His many decorations and honors included 3 Bronze Stars, Air Medal and Legion of Merit. After retiring from the military, he taught history and ROTC in Texas and North Carolina before spending two more decades serving his country through the Department of Defense at the Pentagon.
SERVICES
His funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul Head, associate rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Beaufort, officiating. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
SURVIVORS
Wife
Frieda Lewis Willis
Daughters
Sylvia Rae Willis and husband, Ho Sung Cho of San Diego, California
Cynthia Jean Willis of Jacksonville, Florida
Cecily Carol Clark of Rockville, Maryland
Michelle Rae Willis Reeves and husband, Brian Reeves of Fort Mill, South Carolina
Sons
Michael Don Zauzig of Atlanta, Georgia
Stephen Mel Willis of Hickory, North Carolina
Henry Coleman Clark, III and wife, Anita Dalton of Austin, Texas
Sister
Betty Ruffin Willis Prudner of Norfolk, Virginia
Grandchildren
Courtney Rhyne Willis, Stephanie Willis Rector and Sabrina Lathan Reeves
VISITATION
The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.
MEMORIALS/DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, P. O. Box 744, Morehead City, NC 28557.
Access online obituary and Internet condolences through brooksfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Morehead City, North Carolina.
