Ronald Bernard Willer

WILLER Ronald Bernard Willer, 81, passed peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, March 8, 2015 and was officially pronounced dead on Monday, March 9, 2015. Mr. Willer was born April 29, 1933 in Quincy, Illinois. He was the second child of Elwyn Clements and Helen Marie Willer. Older brother Kenneth and younger sister Patricia. One of his first jobs was as a Foul Boy in a bowling alley, where on his first night of work he affirmed his reputation for honesty by fouling his own father three times. From 1952-1956 he served in the U.S. Navy and from 1956-1960 in the Naval Reserve. Communications Technician 2nd Class; stationed in French Morocco; worked one summer at the Pentagon. Attended college on the G.I. Bill and received his BSBA in Accounting from Northwestern University in 1960. Mr. Willer married Karen Roberta Linton on August 27, 1960 at St. Petri Church in Chicago, Illinois and had three daughters. Married for 42 happy years, they made their home in Chicago; Lansing, Michigan; Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin; Farmers Branch, Texas; Carrollton, Texas, and Gun Barrel City, Texas. After Karen’s passing on August, 8, 2002, Mr. Willer was blessed with the loving companionship of Hertha Swanson, with whom he spent 12 happy years enjoying travel, theatre, and crossword puzzles. During the 1960’s, Mr. Willer worked his way up through multiple companies where he developed, designed, and installed computer systems. After moving to Dallas in 1969 he worked for University Computing Company (UCC), Republic Bank of Dallas, and Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). Despite these successes, Mr. Willer was most proud of his second career as an English as a Second Language teacher at Mount Auburn Elementary School in Dallas -- a lifelong dream he realized after earning his Master of Education degree at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas in 1990. Mr. Willer was a lifelong teacher and seeker of knowledge and never passed up an opportunity to share wisdom and know-how with his daughters and students. Other personal bests Mr. Willer achieved were riding a motorcycle past 100,000 miles, serving as a community volunteer (library helper, cancer camp volunteer, track & field official, reserve police officer), working as a licensed massage therapist, and learning to play the autoharp. A member and volunteer at the American Legion Post 310 in Gun Barrel City, Texas, Mr. Willer proudly flew the American flag at each of the family’s homes. Mr. Willer was a life-long fan of hugs, military bands, jogging, the joys of reading and libraries, and the glory of meticulous organization skills and routine. He was happiest at home, sitting on the porch, reading, looking out across the lake, listening to the wind in the pine trees with a cup of coffee and a donut in hand. Mr. Willer, loving companion and husband, father, son, brother, friend, and teacher, is survived by his partner Hertha Swanson, Texas; sister Patricia Mitchell, Texas (Thomas); daughters: Constance Courage, California (Bahman Shimiaei); Roberta Willer, Texas, and Ann Marie Willer, Massachusetts (Lee Forest); and grandson Lincoln, of California. Preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Willer. Service and burial Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Metrocrest Funeral Home and Hilltop