CDR Avery Lee Willis

Avery Lee Willis, 92, of La Mesa, CA, died Thursday, December 31, 2009. Born February 13, 1917, in Rockwood, TN, Commander Willis entered the Navy in August 1936 and was assigned to duty on the Batteship NEVADA. In 1941 he was reassigned to the USS ARGONNE, and was aboard her at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese launched the attack that put the United States in World War II. After the Pearl Harbor attack, Commander Willis applied for submarine school; upon his completion he was assigned to the USS TUNNY, a newly commissioned submarine. Avery served on the TUNNY from June 1942 until February 1945, making eight war patrols during that period. He received his commission as Ensign while aboard the TUNNY in August 1944. From February to October 1945, he served aboard the submarine STURGEON. Following World War II, Commander Willis served aboard the USS BLOWER (SS-325) from 1946 to 1948; attended the University of Nebraska and General Line School, Newport, RI, from 1948 to 1950; served on the USS SEGUNDO (SS-398) from 1950 to 1954, making several war patrols during the Korean War; Officer in Charge, Pro Submarine section, Fleet Sonar School, San Diego, CA from 1954 to 1956; Executive Officer, USS COTTEN (DD 669) from 1956 to 1958; Commanding Officer, USS HAMMERBERG (DE 1015) from 1958 to 1959; Director of Officer Training, Fleet Sonar School, Key West, FL from 1959 to 1960, Commanding Officer, USS HUNTINGTON (DD-781) from 1961 to 1963; Operations Training Officer, Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare School, San Diego, CA. Commander Willis retired from active duty in October 1966. Commander Willis holds the Bronze Star with Combat "V", Presidential Unit Citation, and Submarine Combat Pin with six Gold Stars. After his naval career, Avery worked for Carpenter Technology Corporation as Director of Engineering and Procurement. He retired from CarTech in April 1982. In addition to his two careers, Avery was a life-long avid hunter and fisherman. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Kathy Willis, of El Cajon, CA, and his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and David Goudge, of Germantown, TN. He also has three grandchildren, Ryan Goudge, Devon Goudge, and Jamie Willis. Wife, Eleanor Willis. Out of eight brothers and sisters, he is survived by Thelma Kelly of Gatlinburg, TN, and Edd Willis of Rockwood, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Annette Willis and daughter Sandra Lee Willis, parents Nicholas and Lummie Willis, and brothers Ernest and Earl Willis, sisters, Edith Cooper and Beulah Muffley, and half-brothers Joe and Shirley Zumstein. Commander Willis belonged to the Shriners and Elks Lodge. Funeral will be Wednesday, 11:00 A.M. January 6, 2010 at El Camino Memorial Park.