David Steel Willis Jr.

Rev. David Steel Willis, Jr., 94, of Patton Farm Road, Stuarts Draft, VA, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at Shenandoah Nursing Home in Fishersville. Rev. Willis was born on July 24, 1922 in New Bern, NC, the son of the late David Steel, Sr., and Esther Gray Willis. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Raleigh, NC, where some of his relatives still reside. David graduated from Needham Broughton High School and received his B.S. Degree from Duke University. Soon after, he received his Masters of Divinity from Yale University. He retired as a United Methodist Minister. He began his ministry in Fall River Mills, CA and built a church from the ground up. After five years, he and his family moved back East to the Virginia Conference. Over the next 50 years, he had ministered various churches and congregations throughout the state. Rev. Willis loved doing God’s work on earth. David deeply loved his family and the outdoors whether he was fishing, hunting or tending his well-kept vegetable gardens. David will be remembered for his easy smile and contagious laughter. He loved people but equally enjoyed his quiet meditation and Bible study time. He will be missed by his family and friends, however; they know he is right where he wants to be with his Lord and Savior for eternity. In addition to his loving parents, he was preceded in death by his older sister, Carolyn Cunningham; his younger brother, Thomas Willis; and his oldest son, Jonathan Willis. David was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He is survived by his beloved wife and Christian life partner of 71 years, Elinor (Fall) Willis; daughter, Beth G. Daisey; two sons, Chuck Willis and wife, Carolyn and David S. Willis, III and wife, Sharon; nine grandchildren; as well as 11 great grandchildren. A funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Calvary United Methodist Church, Stuarts Draft. The family will have a private burial following the service. Active pallbearers will be the Willis grandsons, Paul, Joseph, David, Michael, Erick and Geoffrey. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes. David’s family would like to thank the attentive, loving and skilled nursing care given to him during these last months at Shenandoah Nursing and Rehab in Fishersville and with special thanks extended to Lynne, Lori, Carole and Sandy. Memorial contributions may be made to Advancing Native Missions (ANM), P.O. Box 5303, Charlottesville, VA 22905. Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com