George
Trowbridge
Willis
5/1/1918 ~ 8/2/2010
Our loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, George Trowbridge Willis passed away peacefully on August 2, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. George was born on May 1, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah to parents Bertram Willis and Rebecca Trowbridge Willis. He married
Elizabeth Atkin on February 1, 1944 and had two sons and two daughters with her prior to her death on
August 9, 1992. Later he married Catherine Mary Branath Leif on
January 17, 1998 and gained a step-daughter.
George was a man of many hats, (mostly because he paid finder's fees to barbers and hats kept the sun off his head). As a young man he was an Eagle Scout enjoying hiking and skiing trips throughout the mountains of Utah including Guardsman Pass, Brighton, King's Peak, Mirror Lake, Baldi, and Park City. He enjoyed golfing all around the Salt Lake Valley especially at the Hidden Valley Country Club of which he was a member for over 20 years.
He served an LDS mission in Hawaii where he developed a love of beaches and Hawaiian cuisine. George held many positions in the Church, the last of which was Greeter in the Grandview Ward. He continued his service with the US Army, US Army Reserves, and US Army National Guard, earning the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1969. He was highly decorated and well
respected by those who served with him.
In his civilian life, George was a provider, a practical joker, a chef, a musician, and a traveler who collected souvenirs. He was the Senior Vice-President of Utah Home Fire Insurance Company for many years. He enjoyed tricking his family members, feeding them poi, playing the ukulele for them, and taking them on trips to Puerto Vallarta to get away from the cold, always bringing home Mexican blankets.
George is survived by five children, Kathy White (Les), Michael Willis (Joan), James Willis (Mara), Marilyn Day (Randy), Christine Chappell (William), 16 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. George was predeceased by his older brother Bertram Willis and younger sister Virginia Anderson.
The family would like to thank Millcreek Home Health and Woodland Park for the time and energy they put into caring for George during the past several months.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grandview LDS Ward Chapel, 2930 South 2000 East. Viewing to be held on Friday evening, August 6, 2010 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church on Saturday morning from 9:30a.m.-10:30a.m. prior to the services. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online tributes may be sent to the family at www.holbrookmortuary.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent on behalf of George to American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or National Alzheimer's Association.