He was married to Elizabeth “Betty” J. Knight on April 27, 1946. They later moved into the house he had built at 607 Newman Road and they lived there for 50 years.
Willard worked at Acme Die Casting and Racine Die Casting. He was then employed with Sharp Die Mold Works for 28 years. He and Betty square danced for 30 years and belonged to the Ridge Runner Square Dance Club, where they served as Treasurer and President.
Willard was a camera buff and was always photographing family and friends. He also belonged to the Wally Byam Airstream Club and enjoyed travel.
He liked to review B-24 memorabilia on TV and in books. He was able to take a trip of a lifetime on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to see the memorial honoring himself and his fellow veterans who had served their country during WWII.
Willard will be dearly missed by his sons, Dan (Janice), Jim (Sherry), Larry (Maggie) and Bill; daughter, Sue; grandchildren, Kendra (Rob) Di Piazza, Brock, Bryan, Joel (Haley), Neil, Jessica, Rick, Ben and Sam; great-grandchildren, Alec, Gavin and Cameron White, Isabella and Joey Di Piazza. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Betty, on August 8, 2010.
Visitation will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday, April 19, 2012, from 4:30 until the time of funeral service at 7 p.m. Private inurnment will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.
The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nursing Staff at the Wheaton Franciscan Cardio Unit and Dr. Durbin for their kind and compassionate care.
Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine 262-634-3361
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