Obituary for
Raymond "Earl" Willard
Raymond "Earl" Willard, age 92, died Friday afternoon, May 13, 2011, at his home near Durango, Colorado.
Earl was born August 20, 1918, to Dennis and Haley Willard in Preston, Kansas. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946 and was stationed in the Philippines during World War II.
Until recent months he lived in Meade, Kansas, after coming to settle there in 1946. On January 16, 1949, he married Dorothy Louise Hanlon in Meade.
Earl had a gentle and quiet spirit and would be found many times reading the Bible or singing his favorite hymns. He possessed strong Christian values and was a giver of great love for his family. While their two sons were in the home, Earl was passionate about having a daily time of reading the Word of God and praying together. He was a longtime, faithful member of the Meade Church of the Nazarene in Meade, Kansas. He enjoyed photography and collecting knives, coins and model cars.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of the home, two sons: Dale, and his wife Shae, Durango, Colorado; Ken, and his wife Patty, Colorado Springs, Colorado; one sister, Dorothy Terrell, Smith Center, Kansas; four brothers, Paul, McPherson, Kansas; Robert, Albert and Dale all of Colorado Springs, Colorado; five grandchildren; Lance and Debbie Willard of Turpin, Oklahoma; Amanda (Willard) and Shawn Edwards of Lawrence, Kansas; Linnzi (Willard) and Raul Pando of Liberal, Kansas; Kelly and Ben Norton of Durango, Colorado; and Chris Roby of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Brooke Pando, Marcus Pando and Christian Edwards; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and one brother, Kenneth.
A memorial service will be held in Durango, Colorado, at 1 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2011, at the River Church, 860 Plymouth Dr., with Rev. Tony Whittal officiating. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011, at the Meade Graceland Cemetery in Meade, Kansas. Rev. Ron Willard will preside at the graveside.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Meade Church of the Nazarene/Entry Renovation Project, P.O. Box 610, Meade, Kansas 67864.