Max Steven Willis Jr., PhD.

Max was born March 8, 1931 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania to the late Max S. and Theresa (Neisnack) Willis, Sr.

Max was a proud veteran of the US Air Force serving in North Africa during the Korean War. Max also enjoyed riding motorcycles and auto racing. He was also an accomplished private pilot. Max enjoyed the works of Rudyard Kipling, even memorizing a few poems.

Max’s journey in education took him and his family throughout the US. He received his B.S. Ch.E. from The Pennsylvania State College and his appointment as Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force Reserve, on August 8, 1953. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1962, after which he relocated with his wife and young family to teach at The University of Dayton from 1962 to 1966. Max was selected for a post-doctoral fellowship with Warren Stewart at University of Wisconsin-Madison, home of Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot, authors of Transport Phenomena, a course Max taught for many years at his next appointment at The University of Akron. Max moved with his family to Fairlawn in 1968, where he retired from The University of Akron as Professor Emeritus and Associate Dean of Engineering for Research.

Max is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by Janet Willis, his wife of 67 years, his three sons, Daniel Martin Willis, Max Steven Willis, III, Ph.D. Ch.E., and his wife Mary Ann Cooper, and Michael Joseph Willis; Max also leaves his brother Daniel Willis, niece Diane (Luke) Watson, and nephew Daniel Andrew (Dot) Willis.

Friends may call 5:00-7:00PM, Wednesday, March 19th at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 3653 W. Market St. in Akron. The funeral service will be at 10AM Thursday at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 1051 Robinson Ave. in Barberton. Interment in Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Department of Mechanical Engineering/Zips Racing and checks may be made out to The University of Akron and sent to: The University of Akron, Department of Mechanical Engineering/ Zips Racing, 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325