Paul E. Willey Sr.

Paul E. Willey, Sr., 97, Roeland Park, KS, died Friday, August 13, 2010, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 17, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Road, Roeland Park, KS. Entombment in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Monday, August 16, at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

Paul was born February 28, 1913, one of thirteen children of the late C.V. Willey and Ellen O'Donnell. He grew up in Logansport, IN, and Chicago, IL. After serving as a sergeant in World War II, stationed in the South Pacific, he moved to Des Moines, IA and worked as a traveling salesman for Uniroyal. He married Charleen C. Thompson on December 11, 1948 in Des Moines, IA, and had four children before moving to Kansas City in 1958. After retiring from Uniroyal, he worked for the Shawnee Mission Post Office. Paul and Charleen were fortunate to have traveled to countries throughout the world including where he was stationed during World War II. Some of his best memories were of travels to New Zealand and New Guinea. He was a member of St. Agnes Parish.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Charleen, in 2002. He was an avid painter and until recently walked 1-2 miles a day, often at Lowe's in Roeland Park. He is survived by two sons, Paul E. Willey Jr., Roeland Park and Joseph V. Willey, New York, NY; two daughters, Jean C. Hart, Albany, NY and Jane E. Closterman, Overland Park, KS; six grandchildren, Kristen Willey, Ryan Closterman, Lindsay Closterman, Erin Closterman, Justin Hart, and Casey Hart. The Willey family would like to express their gratitude to both St. Luke’s Hospital and Kansas City Hospice House for their excellent care. Please offer condolences at mcgilleyhogememorialchapel.com. (Arrangements: McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204 (913) 642-3565)