Edwin Carey Wills

Ed graduated from Gresham High School in 1942 where he lettered in 4 sports, football, basketball, baseball and track for the Gophers. He attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Ed served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. Ed married Ella Mae Ruth on March 26, 1950 in Stevenson, Washington. In 1959 the Wills bought an ice cream store at Southeast 218th and Stark Street, which they called the Double Decker. They offered 34 flavors of homemade ice cream and sold hamburgers five for $1. The Wills also operated the Thumb Hole Café at Rockwood Bowl and the Orient Drive Café. Ed launched Gresham’s first postwar cab company in 1946, was one of the first to work for the National Guard at the Gresham Armory, was the foreman at Lewis Packing Co., and joined Cascade Corporation in 1961, where he retired after 25 years. Ed was a long time Gresham resident. Ed was a former member of the Gresham Elks organization.

Special interests included enjoying all sports, gardening, watching dog and horse racing and traveling. There were four constants in Ed and Ella Mae’s lives together, Food, family, friends and sports.

Ed is survived by his wife Ella Mae Wills of Gresham, OR., son Jim Wills of Springdale, OR., daughter Karen Younce of Battleground, WA., son Chuck Wills of Springdale, OR., brother Dan Wills of Gresham, OR., sister Georgene Honke of Gresham, OR., 5 grandchildren, Mike, Shann, Scott, Jaclyn and Brian, 5 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Ed was preceded in death by his brothers Bud and Harold Wills .

Funeral Service will be on Monday, Mary 24, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home located at 520 W. Powell Blvd. in Gresham, Oregon. Private burial with military honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.