Ralph Eugene Willis Sr., 92, of Dalton, GA, died on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Hamilton Medical Center.
Gene was born June 27, 1921 in Dalton, a son of the late Adolph Willis, Sr. and Essie Mae Barrett Willis; and was also preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Lee Taylor Willis; a son, Wendell Lee Willis; a brother, Adolph Willis, Jr.; and sisters, Fannie Burse, Janie Ruth Shropshire, Kathryn Denmon, Grace McKnight, Mildred Inez Sims Johnson and Flossie Watkins.
Gene was a graduate of the Emery Street High School and worked many years at the Whitehead Laundry, Fashion Cleaners, Dalton Public Schools and was retired from Southern Binders. He was a member and deacon at Liberty Baptist Church. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #238. In his younger years he loved to play tennis, baseball and hunt. He also loved to fish and spending time with his family. He was a very good piano player and loved playing for the residents at Regency Park.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and James (Ronnie) Shropshire of Dalton, GA; sons and daughters-in-law, Ralph and Tammie Willis, Kenneth and Barbara Willis all of Dalton, GA and Monty and Jacquelyn Willis of Marietta, GA; grandchildren, Richie Willis, Heather Willis, Tracey Famber, Taylor Willis, Job Willis, Andrew Bonds, Kimberly Mitchell, Barry and Tasha Willis, Randall and LeAndre Shropshire, Zakia and Michael Banks, Monti Willis and Imani Willis; great-grandchildren, Sheriel Shropshire, Nicholas Ware, Randall Lane Shropshire, Jr., Harrison Shropshire, Za’Tea Banks, Jamal Shropshire, Taylor Gage Mitchell and Barry J. Willis, II; great-great-grandchildren, Kamari Shropshsire, Mya Shropshire and Aryanne Shropshire; sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Hanford Stafford of Prospect, KY; brothers-in-law, George McKnight and Lawrence Watkins of Atlanta; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Ralph Eugene Willis, Sr. will be held Monday, August 26, at 1 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church 504 S. Pentz St., Dalton, with Minister Jimmy Ingram, Minister Eugene Miller, Minister Jerry Burse, Minister Claude Jones and Minister Floretta Watkins officiating. He will be placed in-state at church one hour prior to the service. Flower bearers will be members of Liberty Baptist Church. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife at the West Hill Cemetery with John Nelson, Ben Phillips, Tracy Dillard, Jeffrey Winfrey, Jeffrey Johnson and Robert O’Neal serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, August 25 and after 10 a.m. Monday, August 26 until the service hour. After the committal service the family meal will be at Dot’s Place, 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. Dalton, GA.
Ponders Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.