Gordon Churchill Willis

Gordon Churchill Willis, 90, was born on April 5, 1920 and died on December 17, 2010. He was the youngest son of Bess and Holman Willis. He is survived by his three children, Judy Crump, Cynthia Creamer and Gordon Willis, Jr., all of Roanoke; eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; and by his wife of 43 years, Jean Hudson Willis, and her three children, Jeannie Hall Rutherfoord, Washington, D.C., John A. Hall Jr., Roanoke, and Mary Vaden Hall Eisenstadt, Rumson, New Jersey; and eight grandchildren. He was a graduate of Jefferson High School, attended Hampton Sydney College and graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He served in the Pacific theatre of war before becoming a Navy pilot and serving on the USS Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier. His record of public service is vast. He was a member of the Roanoke Bi-Racial Committee that spear headed the Valley's peaceful integration and was awarded the Noel C. Taylor Humanitarian Award in 2000. He headed the Roanoke Valley Development Corp., which turned the American Viscose property into the Roanoke Industrial Center. He served on the State Board for Community Colleges, becoming Chairman. He was also Chairman of the State Board for Higher Education in Virginia. After being instrumental in the creation of North Cross School, he served as Chairman of its Board for 16 years. Also, among his many honors, he was named Cultural laureate of Virginia in 1992. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the loving care of his caregivers, Cindy Campbell, Sara Mullen, Vickie Wolfe, Sharon Reese and Darlene McDowell, as well as the staff of the South Roanoke Nursing Home. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Entombment was private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2728 Colonial Avenue, Suite 2, Roanoke, VA 24015. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel.