The Rev. Eugene Willis, 81, of Pittsburg, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at Mary Hurley Hospital in Coalgate.
The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening at Bishop Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the New Pittsburg School Gym with the Rev. Donald Homady officiating and the Rev. Jimmie Williamson assisting. Burial will be at Pittsburg Cemetery with military honors by the Robert B. Thomas, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1098. Arrangements are under direction of Bishop Funeral Service.
Born July 27, 1928, in Hartshorne, to Robert Edward and Mary Margaret Willis, he graduated from Pittsburg High School and then entered the United States Army Air Force in 1946. He served until receiving his honorable discharge in 1949 at Denver, Colo.
He returned to Pittsburg and married Gloria Aileen Coulston on July 15, 1950, in McAlester. They moved to California where he worked for McDonald Douglas and then moved to Oklahoma City and then Norman while he worked for Tinker Air Force Base as a base supply Inspector. He retired on Feb. 27, 1985, after 29 years of service and also during this time he pastored the Pentecostal Church of God, Indian Mission Church.
After retirement, he moved to Pittsburg where he built a new home and also built the Pentecostal Church of God, Indian Mission Church in Pittsburg. For more than 30 years, he served as Presbyter over the entire Indian Mission Churches in Oklahoma. He and his wife started a gospel group called “The Midwest City Gospel Singers” with the Amos and Samuel families. Together, they carried the gospel by song to Indians at various Indian reservations from Florida, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. They recorded three gospel albums with another group, the “Glory Bound Singers”, as well as “The Midwest City Gospel Singers.” He also authored several gospel songs and poems.
After the death of his wife, Gloria, on June 27, 2005, he later married Linda Coberly on April 21, 2006, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He lived the remainder of his life in Pittsburg where he was very active in the church until the time of his death.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Willis, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Eugene and Neva Willis, of Moore, William Edward and Valdene Willis, of Norman; two daughters and a son-in-law, Gloria Diane and Rick Brakebill, of Norman, Patsy Charlene Wise, of Moore; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He was also preceded in death by his parents Robert (Choc) and Mary Willis; a sister, Frances Willis, and a brother, Robert Edward Willis Jr.
Pallbearers include Robert Willis Jr., Michael Willis, Brad Weiland, Zach Rieves, Terry Jenkins and Marcus Willis.
Honorary pallbearers include Danny Baldwin, Rick Brakebill, Matt Murray, Kevin Shay, Aaron Mell and Dee Woods.
