Obituary for Lawrence “Larry” Willis

LAWRENCE “LARRY” WILLIS

Lawrence “Larry” Willis, 68 of Liberty passed away on Monday, January 11, 2021. He was born on October 8, 1952, in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to the late John A. Willis Sr. and Doris Daut Willis.

Larry grew up in Moorestown, New Jersey from 1955 until 1965. In 1965, he moved to Connersville. He attended Connersville High School, played football and was on the wrestling team. After his junior year of high school, he joined the United States Navy. He was in the Navy for four years where he was a Radioman and achieved the rank of E4. He also attended Indiana University East and coached the basketball team there.

In 1984, he married Regina Dixon in Hamilton, Ohio.

Larry was a member of the American Legion and had been a guest speaker for the Vietnam Wall. He was an influential part of getting the wall built. He had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 10 years and was a part of the Army Corps of Engineers for eight years at Brookville Lake and Monroe Lake. During the blizzard of 1978, Larry had served with the Red Cross in helping the community.

Larry was a baseball coach and an Umpire for several years. He was also the Assistant Coach of the Union County wrestling team. He loved being an umpire and a coach. Most importantly he cherished his time spent with his children and family. Larry touched many people through his years of being on the baseball field and the wrestling mat.

Along with his wife of 37 years, he is survived by his children, Stephanie (Niguel) Smith-Reuss, Morgan Willis and Jarod Willis; seven grandchildren, Ryder Willis, Keagan Harrison, Gavin Foreman, Layla Foreman, Nathaniel Hillard, Ryane Hillard and Aidan Hillard; brothers, Jack Willis, James Willis, Walter Burrier; sisters, Judy Plough, Roseanne Goldman, Cindy Hubbard and Mary Burrier; and several nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and a great grandson, Abel.

Visitation for Larry will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021, at Urban Winkler Liberty Funeral Home from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m., at the funeral home with Military Honors to follow.

To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message, visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.