Blanche Lenora Willis

Blanche L. Willis was part of the Greatest Generation in History, growing up during the depression and living thru World War II to the present conflict of war against Terrorism. These adversarial times taught her to be strong and ready to face any challenge. She was very organized in her thinking and actions and not one to sit around and wait for others, making her an asset as a homemaker, student, employee, caregiver and volunteer. She was born in Benedict Nebraska to Fred C. and Bessie R. Wirth, around age 2, she and her family moved to a farm near Dalton, Kansas. She was the 10th child of 11 children. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1940. Since her parents lived so far out of town, during the week she shared an apartment with a brother, going home on the weekends. After high school she attended Wichita Business college. Went to work at Beech Aircraft, where she met and married Samuel "Jack" Willis on October18, 1942. During World War II, with one of her sister's help, she moved to California, driving a Woody station wagon, making a play pen area in the back seat for her baby daughter. She found a job working near Oceanside, as a civilian employee for the government, while her husband was overseas. Following the war, they moved back to Kansas where 2 more daughters were born, finally settling in Wichita in the same house for 59 years. After moving to Wichita, she welcomed and fostered her nephew. She was legal secretary for many years, then taught at a Central Vo-Tech school until 1984. While still teaching, she helped her husband set up their business, Leaf & Briar Pipe & Tobacco store. She is survived by daughters, Judy (Al) Ford, Jean Garrett, Janis Willis (Ron Cantu) and foster son Vern (Carol) Wirth; 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother and enthusiastic grandmother. She had many other accomplishments, good cook and seamstress; she made the wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and flower girls dress for her oldest daughters wedding. She was a self-taught pianist and a many a weekend afternoon the family would hear her playing of her favorite songs. She was active in several organizations over the years. Girl Scout leader when girls were young, member of the Beta Sigma Phi, VFW auxiliary president, was treasurer at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, and on the board of directors for United Methodist Urban Ministry. As a volunteer, she helped at Rae Woodman elementary school and received the "Good Apple" award in 2001. She and her husband loved to dance and they went to many Shrine dances at the Cotillion. Her warm heart and ready smile for everyone will be certainly missed. Unfortunately, the last 8 years of her life she suffered from Alzheimer's, with her strong will, she gave a good fight, but in the end the Lord called her to join her family in heaven. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to either Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or West Side United Methodist Church (1313 W. Lydia, Wichita, KS. 67213)