Kenneth E. Willis, Sr. 86 of Oakland City passed away at Deaconess Gateway Medical Center on Wednesday April 27, 2016.

He was born in Pike County Indiana to Carl and Blanch (Rainey) Willis on June 6, 1929.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Dorothy Louise Crow, Doris Adilene Dupree, Ina Marie Burden, Ruth Anna Scott, Rose Mary Warren, and a brothers Foster Ivan Willis, Thomas Carl Willis, and Ronald Wayne Willis.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elsie (Meier) Willis, daughter Nancy L. Bruce of Evansville, sons Kenneth E. Willis, Jr. (Paula) of Oakland City, and David A. Willis (Trudy) of Somerville, Grandchildren Amanda Riggs (Jason), David Bruce (April), Shannon MacMunn (Mike), and Megan Travis (Todd), Step Grandchildren Michael Jones, and William Jones. Great Grandchildren Zachary Riggs, Rilee Riggs, Madison Riggs, Aiden MacMunn, Lily MacMunn, Scarlett Bruce, and Isabella Bruce. Step Great Grandchildren Kelsey Tapp, Michael Jones, and Alex Jones, and Aubrey Vaught. And a sister Geneva Risley of Princeton.

He is a Veteran of World War II. He was employed by the Chrysler Corporation, the Indiana Department of Transportation and retired from Peabody Coal Co. after 28 years.  He was a member of Oakland City Masonic Lodge No. 467, the Scottish Rite Valley of Evansville, the Hadi Shrine Temple, and the Gibson County Shrine Club. He served on the Hadi Shrine Hospital Staff and made over 150 trips to transport children to the Shrine Hospitals in St. Louis, Lexington, Cincinnati, and Chicago. He was an active member of the Gibson County Democratic Party, serving many years as a precinct committeeman and several terms on the Barton Township Advisory Board. He and Elsie were the foundation upon which a large and loving family was built.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday April 30, 2016 at Lamb-Basham Memorial Chapel in Oakland City, IN, with the Reverend Matt Malin officiating. Burial will be at Providence Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday April 29 and from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Masonic Services will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday April 29.