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Robert Eugene (Bob) Willis, Sr., 89, longtime resident of Albuquerque died suddenly at home, Sunday, December 29, 2002. Mr. Willis was born December 6, 1913 in Canton, OK. He graduated from Canton High School in the 1930's and attended Central State College, Edmond, OK for a year before graduating from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK in 1935-36. His son, Robert Jr., remembers stories of his father travelling back and forth from home to school on freight trains during the"dirty thirties" dust bowl years in Oklahoma. He later attended George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC. where he met and married Elizabeth Boone. Willis joined the Navy immediately following graduation, and attended Officer Candidate School at Cornell University. Following training, Mr. Willis served first on a tanker, and later on a hospital ship in the Pacific during World War II, and was discharged as a Lt. Commander October 19, 1945. Returning to Oklahoma after the war, Willis' only son, Robert was born in Oklahoma City in May of 1946 where Bob established a successful private practice as both a CPA and a tax attorney. They lived on Morningside SE a block west of San Mateo which was then the eastern edge of the city. Mr. Willis sold his practice in 1957 joining the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) as an auditor. The family relocated to Miamisburg, OH during 1958-69, in service to Monsanto Chemical, an AEC subcontractor. After transferring back to Albuquerque for several years, the Willis family again relocated this time to Clearwater, FL in 1966. In 1970, Mr. Willis retired from government service in Clearwater and returned to Albuquerque. His first wife, Elizabeth died in 1988 and Mr. Willis married his surviving wife, Nadeen Fritz Willis in 1990. They settled into the Tanoan community where Bob continued his lifelong love affair with golf, and they both became active in Tanoan's bridge and social activities. A founding member of the"Old Goats," Mr. Willis will long be remembered by friends, family and all who knew him, as generous, clever and good hearted to the end, with never a harsh or critical word for anyone. He is survived by his wife, Nadeen M. Willis of Albuquerque; son, Robert E. Willis Jr. and wife, Dawn of Roswell, NM; grandson, Ward Joseph Ahlen Willis of Roswell, NM; and nephew, Joseph W. Shaw also of Albuquerque. Mr. Willis is preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Boone Willis. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1500 Chelwood Park Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers will be gratefully accepted by St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Albuquerque.
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