Charles E. Willis died on August 27, 2015 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on September 23, 1924 in Wellston, Ohio. While on a vacation in Florida, Charlie met Mary Louise Newman, also from Wellston, Ohio. After a courtship of boating and water skiing on the Ohio River, they were married in 1959 and moved to Orlando, Florida.
In 1980, Charles lost his right leg and hip to a form of cancer most do not survive. Not only did Charles survive, he thrived. Charles never let what he could not do prevent him from doing what he wanted to do. He just found another way. After retirement, Charles and Mary travelled throughout the U.S. and Europe. During one trip to Italy, Charles and Mary attended an audience with Pope John Paul II and shook his hand.
Charles is survived by his wife, Mary Louise, and their three children, David (Judi), George (Mary) and Jennifer (Bob Fish) and their “Italian son”, Marco (Betti and Andrea).
Charles was predeceased by his parents, brother Tom, Jr. and sister Mary Ellen.