Willis Franklin Day III

1923 - 2017

Willis Franklin Day III

Willis "Bill" Franklin Day, III, age 94, passed away May 31, 2017 in his home. Bill was born February 4, 1923 in Toledo to the late Willis F. Day, Jr. and Ernestine Kirchmaier Day. He was a 1941 graduate of Scott High School and was attending Miami University when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He enlisted in the Navy and received training in Chicago before serving in the Pacific aboard an attack transport ship seeing action at the battle of Iwo Jima and during the occupation of Japan. He was discharged earning the rank of Lieutenant JG and continued his Naval career as a reservist.

Upon returning home, Bill began his career with the Willis Day Companies. He became president in 1958. In 1963, Bill led a group of investors in acquiring the 2,000,000 square foot former Rossford Army Depot and converted it to Willis Day Industrial Park. He managed the park until 1982 when he transitioned to family owned and managed properties. Under his leadership the companies operated in excess of 3,000,000 square feet of warehouse and industrial space. Bill was president of Willis Day Storage Company, Willis Day Properties, and Willis Day Management. He was a longtime board member at Ohio Citizens Bank and Tecumseh Product Corporation as well as other regional companies. He loved his work and had a brilliant mind for real estate. His life exemplified his favorite motto, "it can be done."

Bill was an avid boater and loved spending time on the water with his family. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, the Toledo Club, Toledo Yacht Club, Catawba Island Club, Phi Delta Theta, American Legion Post #335, Toledo Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge 335, and the Jesters, which he was a member of for 72 years.

Bill married Rosemary Claypool on September 15, 1944 and they spent 52 years together before her death on July 15, 1997. During Rosemary's final illness, he taught his family the meaning of sacrificial love and that caring for a loved one in need is the most important thing one can do.

In addition to his beloved wife, Bill was preceded in death by brothers, Thomas R. and P. Richard Day. He is survived by daughters, Debbie Youngblood and Jane (Jack) Koch; sons, John (Claudia) Day and Willis (Mandy) Day IV; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Nancy) Koch, Brian (Annie) Koch, Trevor Stephenson, Amie (Jason) Kurian, Jessica Youngblood, Joshua Youngblood, Ashlee Youngblood, Derrick Youngblood, Brent Youngblood, Lela Day, Sara Day, Samantha Day, and Natalie (Mike) Day Netter; 15 great-grandchildren; special friend, Colleen Kolling; and special caregiver, Theresa Gosnell.

Bill's family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Theresa, Katie, Heather, Deb, Hermine and Deanna, all caregivers from Comfort Keepers of Suburban Toledo In Home Care and to Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the wonderful care they provided.

Visitation will be Saturday, June 3, 2017, from 2-8:00 p.m. at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.). Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Rd., Toledo, OH 43606. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hope Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551. Condolences may be shared online at

walkerfuneralhomes.com



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