Obituary for Robert Joseph "Uncle Bob" Willis
Robert Joseph “Uncle Bob” Willis was born on November 3, 1930 in Timpson, Shelby County, Texas and peacefully left this earthly life on July 2, 2020 at Autumn Winds Assisted Living in Winnsboro, Wood County, Texas, at the age of 89 years, seven months and 29 days.
He was raised by his parents with his three brothers on a farm in Winnsboro, Texas and graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army (during the Korean conflict) and the U.S. Maritime Service (USMS) in the Merchant Marines where he was trained to be a baker.
During his life he lived mostly in the Garland, Seagoville, and Lucas areas. He at one time had a television repair shop in the 1960s on Gaston Avenue in Dallas. He worked for Rockwell International for over 30 years as an expeditor, and retired in his 60s.
Uncle Bob was a member of the Autumn Trails A’s (Model Ford A) club, the Dallas Model A Ford Club, the Model A Ford Club of America, and at one time a member of the Lions Club.
Uncle Bob was a real legend in his own time, as a founding member of the Autumn Trails Antique Car weekend the 4th Saturday of each October with his good friend, J.C. Vaugn when they took their two Model As for an impromptu tour around downtown Winnsboro in 1963, honking their Aoogah horns and waving at everyone. The 57 year tradition is a featured fall favorite of many locals and folks around Texas near and far.
He is survived by four sons, three daughter’s-in-law, seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, nine nieces and nephews, and 44 great and great-great nieces and nephews and numerous friends and acquaintances.
Four sons include: Joseph Willis and wife Annette, Ronnie Willis and wife Linda Dobbs Willis, David “Tex” Willis and wife Chana Gail, and Charles “Scarecrow Willis”.
Seven Grandchildren and their families include: John Willis (and son Joseph Willis), Amanda Sue Willis, Dalton R. Willis, Audrey Willis Lucia and husband Rhys (and their daughter Riley), PFC Robert S. “Bobby” Willis, Dara Willis (her children Kyleigh, Kynlee and Remi), Danielle Willis (her children Ryker, Rayven, Jace), and Levi, Leila Grace, Dustin Willis.
Nephews and nieces and their families include: Philip Gilbreath and wife Nancy (children Jenna and husband Sean O’Brien [and kids Conner and Abigail]; and Justin Gilbreath and wife Jennifer [children Jaxon, Jaylee and Jordyn]), Gail Willis Bain and husband Bobby (Blake Bain and wife Regina [daughter Asher] and Kelyn Bain); Carolyn Willis (and sons Jared Rogers and Blake Rogers); John Willis and Dana (and daughter Lauren). Grace Willis Wilson and husband Bodie (and sons Thomas Wilson and wife Nicole [sons Bradley and Rhett, daughter Dixie] and Jordan Wilson and wife Stephanie [and their children: son Jaxen Gunner, daughter Remington Jade, son Graysen Judd, son Beckett Wilder, daughter Georgia Mae]) Karen Willis (children Kelsey and Garrick); Jim Willis (and sons Michael and James, and their children Trinity and Briana), Robert Willis Sr. and wife Cindy (and children Robert Jr., Angela Moreira and husband Steven [and children Christopher, Maddox, Michael and Taylor], Sonya Willis [and son Richard Prado), Carl Willis and wife Yanira; And great nieces Casie Pierce, Shelly Pierce and husband Victor Guerra (and sons Zane and Brasen))
Mr. Willis is also survived by ex-wife Ledo Lea and Betty Holt.
Preceded in death by his parents, Brad and Isabelle Willis, and brothers Tom Willis, John Willis and Arthur Willis, by grandson Dustin B. Willis, by niece Carol Willis Pierce and sisters-in-law Ima Willis, Shirley Willis and Conchita Willis, by first wife Trina, second wife Margaret.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Winnsboro Community Resource Center, 115 West Broadway, Winnsboro, TX 75494, where Uncle Bob volunteered for many years for the local food pantry.
Services are slated for Monday, July 6, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Beaty Funeral Home officiating (Chapel), 816 W. Broadway (Hwy. 11), Winnsboro, TX with interment of a short graveside at Lee Cemetery, State Hwy 37 about 1.7 miles south of FM515.
He was raised by his parents with his three brothers on a farm in Winnsboro, Texas and graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army (during the Korean conflict) and the U.S. Maritime Service (USMS) in the Merchant Marines where he was trained to be a baker.
During his life he lived mostly in the Garland, Seagoville, and Lucas areas. He at one time had a television repair shop in the 1960s on Gaston Avenue in Dallas. He worked for Rockwell International for over 30 years as an expeditor, and retired in his 60s.
Uncle Bob was a member of the Autumn Trails A’s (Model Ford A) club, the Dallas Model A Ford Club, the Model A Ford Club of America, and at one time a member of the Lions Club.
Uncle Bob was a real legend in his own time, as a founding member of the Autumn Trails Antique Car weekend the 4th Saturday of each October with his good friend, J.C. Vaugn when they took their two Model As for an impromptu tour around downtown Winnsboro in 1963, honking their Aoogah horns and waving at everyone. The 57 year tradition is a featured fall favorite of many locals and folks around Texas near and far.
He is survived by four sons, three daughter’s-in-law, seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, nine nieces and nephews, and 44 great and great-great nieces and nephews and numerous friends and acquaintances.
Four sons include: Joseph Willis and wife Annette, Ronnie Willis and wife Linda Dobbs Willis, David “Tex” Willis and wife Chana Gail, and Charles “Scarecrow Willis”.
Seven Grandchildren and their families include: John Willis (and son Joseph Willis), Amanda Sue Willis, Dalton R. Willis, Audrey Willis Lucia and husband Rhys (and their daughter Riley), PFC Robert S. “Bobby” Willis, Dara Willis (her children Kyleigh, Kynlee and Remi), Danielle Willis (her children Ryker, Rayven, Jace), and Levi, Leila Grace, Dustin Willis.
Nephews and nieces and their families include: Philip Gilbreath and wife Nancy (children Jenna and husband Sean O’Brien [and kids Conner and Abigail]; and Justin Gilbreath and wife Jennifer [children Jaxon, Jaylee and Jordyn]), Gail Willis Bain and husband Bobby (Blake Bain and wife Regina [daughter Asher] and Kelyn Bain); Carolyn Willis (and sons Jared Rogers and Blake Rogers); John Willis and Dana (and daughter Lauren). Grace Willis Wilson and husband Bodie (and sons Thomas Wilson and wife Nicole [sons Bradley and Rhett, daughter Dixie] and Jordan Wilson and wife Stephanie [and their children: son Jaxen Gunner, daughter Remington Jade, son Graysen Judd, son Beckett Wilder, daughter Georgia Mae]) Karen Willis (children Kelsey and Garrick); Jim Willis (and sons Michael and James, and their children Trinity and Briana), Robert Willis Sr. and wife Cindy (and children Robert Jr., Angela Moreira and husband Steven [and children Christopher, Maddox, Michael and Taylor], Sonya Willis [and son Richard Prado), Carl Willis and wife Yanira; And great nieces Casie Pierce, Shelly Pierce and husband Victor Guerra (and sons Zane and Brasen))
Mr. Willis is also survived by ex-wife Ledo Lea and Betty Holt.
Preceded in death by his parents, Brad and Isabelle Willis, and brothers Tom Willis, John Willis and Arthur Willis, by grandson Dustin B. Willis, by niece Carol Willis Pierce and sisters-in-law Ima Willis, Shirley Willis and Conchita Willis, by first wife Trina, second wife Margaret.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Winnsboro Community Resource Center, 115 West Broadway, Winnsboro, TX 75494, where Uncle Bob volunteered for many years for the local food pantry.
Services are slated for Monday, July 6, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Beaty Funeral Home officiating (Chapel), 816 W. Broadway (Hwy. 11), Winnsboro, TX with interment of a short graveside at Lee Cemetery, State Hwy 37 about 1.7 miles south of FM515.