Avis de décès de Robert-E. Willis

Robert E. Willis FITCHBURG Robert E. Willis, died peacefully, March 5, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was 84. Robert was born in Brockton and raised in Easton. He was the youngest child and only son of the late Burton E. and Pauline (Clark) Willis. In March of 1943, the 18 year-old Willis entered the U.S. Army and was involved in battles in North Africa and Salerno Italy, serving in the 3rd Infantry Div. It was on the later battlefield that the young Willis was recruited by then Colonel Darby to join Ranger forces, as they continued their invasion of Italy. However, Robert was wounded by enemy fire and received two Purple Hearts, one being personally given to him by Darby. After the war, he eventually returned to Massachusetts, and in later years, moved to New Hampshire. He worked at the former Independent Nail in Bridgewater. He also worked at the former Producers Dairy in Brockton, as mechanic supervisor. He retired from Polaroid in Norwood, where he also worked in the mechanical maintenance department. He enjoyed hunting and fishing his entire life. He was known to fix just about anything, but had a special fondness for machinery and automotive mechanics. During the 1950s, he built race cars that were driven on area race tracks, such as the Seekonk Speedway. He enjoyed going to the track in later years. He was husband to the late Julia (Bowling) Willis, to whom he was married to for 48 years. He was preceded in death by his three sisters, Muriel Moberg, Ruth Brooks and Edna Hatchfield; two children, Pauline Jones and Robert L. Willis; and a grandson. He is survived by his youngest daughter, Carrie L. Monty; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Willis; a sister-in-law, Elmira Payne; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Burial service will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, in Bourne, Friday, March 27, at 1 p.m. Donations in Roberts memory can be sent to the ;(function() { var adKeyValue = 't='; adKeyValue+= escape('clio=ALZ'); adKeyValue += escape('&cobrand=southofboston-enterprise'); adKeyValue += escape('&linktext=Alzheimer\'s Association'); adKeyValue += escape('&linkurl=https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5080&5080.donation=form1&set.TributeType=MEMORIAL&set.custom.honoree_name=Robert Willis&set.TributeMessage=A+gift+has+been+made+in+remembrance+of+Robert Willis'); adKeyValue += escape('&fn=Robert'); adKeyValue += escape('&ln=Willis'); var adClkUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1349619970'; var adImpUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1349619970'; document.write("<a href='" + adClkUrl + "' target=_blank>Alzheimer\'s Association<" + 'img' + " src='" + adImpUrl + "' style='width=1px; height=1px; display:inline;' /></a>"); }());, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472, or to AseraCare Hospice, 4 Mount Royal Ave., Suite 110, Marlborough, MA 01752. The Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 123 Main St., Westminster, is in charge of arrangements.