Willis Landis Erb

Willis Landis Erb, of Lower Heidelberg Township, passed away on January 27, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

He was the devoted husband of Rebecca Ann (Etchberger) Erb. Married on March 16, 1968, they shared 57 years of joyful marriage.

Born in Ephrata in 1946 to Earl and Cora Kathryn (Landis) Erb, he was the sixth of eight children. Willis graduated from Ephrata High School in 1964 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served during the Vietnam War with Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Seven on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise as an Aviation Survival Equipment Technician. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Willis worked at Textile Machine Works and Hayes Construction. A skilled carpenter and builder, he started Willis Erb Contracting, which he operated for many years. In his retirement, he supported Rebecca in the start of her textile business, The Wool Studio.

Willis was a devoted and loving father to Christie Marie Botterbusch, wife of Carl, Wyomissing, and Amy Rebecca Moore, wife of Matthew, Ephrata. One of his greatest pleasures in life was spending time with his four grandchildren, Samuel Botterbusch, husband of Elizabeth Allen of Baltimore, Lydia Botterbusch of Philadelphia, Lily Moore and fiancé Cameron Lasinsky of Golden, Colorado, and James Moore of Ephrata.

An active member of St. John's Reformed Church, Sinking Spring for over 50 years, he served on the Consistory as a Trustee, was an active Greeter and Usher, and helped with many projects and initiatives.

Willis had a heart for service, quietly asking what needed to be done and taking action. He directly supported Helping Harvest, New Journey Community Outreach, and Hope Rescue Mission in addition to donating many gallons[1] of blood in his lifetime as a universal donor.

Willis was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and archery. He enjoyed spending time with his family in Ocean City, NJ, where he took the grandchildren fishing and on daily rounds of mini golf, as well as playing Blitz. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching college football and golf. He was a prolific reader and delighted in watching the bluebirds every spring right outside his window.

In addition to his immediate family, Willis is survived by brothers Glen of Ephrata, David of Ephrata, Galen of Brownstown, and sisters Susan Dilick of Warren, and Marian Rhoades of Lancaster. He was predeceased by brother Larry of South Carolina and sister Peggy McEllhenney of Ephrata.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Reformed Church, Sinking Spring, on Saturday February 7, with visitation starting at 12:30 pm and service at 2:00 pm. Light refreshments and fellowship will be hosted in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to New Journey Community Outreach (www.njcoinc.org), Wernersville Public Library (https://www.berkslibraries.org/branch/wernersville), or by donating blood to Miller-Keystone Blood Center (www.giveapint.org).