Willard L. Fruits

Willard L. Fruits, age 92, a resident of Wheaton, IL passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024.
Just prior to the Christmas season, Willard L. Fruits was born in 1931 near Danville, IL to Ira B. and Ruby V. (Reeder) Fruits. Willard was very tiny at birth and so received the nick-name, "Short Stuff" and from that day forward his family called him "Shorty." His parents moved the eleven siblings over 18 times in Willard's childhood looking for work throughout Chicago, Arkansas and Missouri. Willard and his brothers plowed, drove horses, milked cows, picked cotton and whatever else was necessary to provide for the family. Mom and the girls cooked, gardened and canned to keep the household fed as the family lived simply and worked hard.
Having left school after 8th grade to work as a ranch hand, Willard went in search of a career by joining the Army sailing to Inchong beach, Korea where his battalion began to move toward North Korea in intense fighting. The demolition group he was assigned to saw heavy casualties on both sides of the war. Cold, wet, muddy nights in foxholes left him with frostbite in his knees which plagued him for years. He eventually achieved the rank of Sergeant 1st class. After 14 months, 21 days and about 14 seconds of war, he sailed for home. A cheer went up after 16 days on the water at the site of the golden gate bridge as the soldiers returned home.
In his 31 days of leave, Willard hurried to his sweetheart, Ella Nora Kintner, whom he had met just prior to his deployment. Willard, who had no need for God, was invited by a friend to attend church where he spotted a sweet looking girl in the choir. That night he was in the backseat with Ella Nora and her boyfriend as they drove to hang out with other young people after church. He lent her his coat as she was chilled and it was not long before he was her boyfriend and they fell in love.
Rev. Hodge met with Willard as he kept returning to church, answering his many questions and providing eternal hope for his life. Willard believed in Christ and he promised God that if He would allow him to come home alive from Korea, Willard would do something worthwhile with his life. Willard asked Ella Nora to marry him before his entering the war, but they kept it a secret until he returned.
Willard and Ella Nora began their life together in Chicago where Willard finished his army commitment. They attended the only small baptist church in downtown Chicago where Willard felt the call to be a Minister of the Gospel of Christ. He had very little education so he studied to pass his GED and enrolled in college. Times were hard as their first daughter, Mary Ann was born and he worked for whomever would hire him pumping gas at filling stations or helping on neighboring farms. He later preached at a small church near his school of Southwest Baptist College in Missouri. Willard's father, wearing his first suit, attended Willard's graduation and ordination, after which Willard entered New Orleans Baptist Seminary.
They now had two daughters as Barbara Jean had been born. Willard was asked to pastor Red Bluff Baptist church where they lived in the parsonage during the summer and were paid in meat and veggies from the congregation. Selling encyclopedias door to door and working part time at the Goodyear plant saw them through his Seminary education.
Rev. Willard Fruits' first full time pastorate was at Plum Orchard Baptist Church. He was introduced at the Southern Baptist State convention as the only pastor who had his own orchard! They had hoped to return to Illinois as a family and took a small pastorate in the Chicago area which was shortly followed by an invitation to Immanuel Baptist Church in Cicero, Illinois where their son Roy was born.
During this time Willard received a call from one of his brothers that his dad was dying and he was asking for Willard to come. For the first time, his father allowed Willard to read scripture to him and he prayed requesting the forgiveness of Christ. Willard and his dad found peace with each other.
As Willard and Ella Nora's children were growing and leaving home, Willard transitioned to teaching in the public schools and helping churches part time. He was a beloved middle school teacher for many years. In the summers he painted with a good friend and was an auctioneer for many events. He continued to help churches in the Chicago area when they needed an interim pastor, preaching "Revivals" and providing Christian Education leadership.
In retirement, Willard and Ella Nora traveled America pulling a camper behind his candy apple red truck making friends all along the way. He helped at his church as one of the "tool guys" fixing whatever needed to be done in the building, singing on the worship team, teaching the Bible and mainly enjoying breakfast with the guys. For many years he served as an Army Chaplain in local senior centers bringing comfort and hope to aging veterans.
His wife of 70 years, Ella Nora, passed on to heaven last year, and Willard was looking forward to being with her again in his last weeks of life. He is also now with his daughter, Mary Ann and grandson Steven. Those of us who remain and treasure our memories of him, also look forward to eternity with him and our Savior.
He is survived by his children: Barbara Jean (Richard) Kolton; and Roy (Lynette Kremer) Fruits, and was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Ann Gladkowski. He loved being a father to his children and a grandfather to: Kerri (Lewis) Blevins, Mary (Andy) Ford, Katarina (Jake) Klem, Austin (Hannah) Fruits, Karis Fruits, and the memory of Steven Kolton.
Great Grandchildren: Chloe, Evee, Yelena, Brayden and Micah.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings:
Mary Esther Sullivan, George Fruits, Ira (Junior) Fruits, Archie Fruits, Ida Mae Fruits, Betty Fruits, Edward Fruits, Charlotte Ann Fruits.
A verse of scripture Willard shared of his life:
Philippians 4:11-13
"I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content-whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me."
A visitation will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Josh McDowell Ministries to continue the spread of the gospel in honor of Willard's preaching at many Church Revivals. Please designate "Memorial for W. Fruits" in the notes.
Give online: Josh.org/Ways-to-Give/
Donate by Mail:
Josh McDowell Ministry
c/o Development
2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 2400
Plano, TX 75075
The family is also taking donations of old jeans for The Blue Jean Project which is supported by residents in Macomb, IL. They make quilts and give them to veterans in appreciation for their faithful and patriotic service to the United States of America. Willard received one of these hand made quilts at a pinning ceremony before he passed.