Raymond W. Willson

Funeral services for Raymond W. Willson, 87, of Blue Grass, IA will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26, 2011 at Blue Grass Presbyterian Church. The family will greet friends on Thursday evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Cunnick-Collins Mortuary in Davenport. Interment will be held at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the Blue Grass American Legion - Post #711. Mr. Willson passed away on Monday, August 22, 2011 at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Davenport.Ray was born in Burlington, IA to Samuel and Frances Willson on February 12, 1924. Ray served aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga in the South Pacific for most of World War II. In 1948, he married Dolores Yvonne Carpenter. Together they had three children: Lynne Gregg (John) Erickson of Houston, TX, Steven (Gail) Willson of Mena, AR, and Julie (Jon) Hall of Little Elm, TX. Ray was a local truck driver most of his adult life. He then became a semi-driving instructor at Scott Community College. He just retired in December 2010. He was a member of Blue Grass Presbyterian Church, the Wilton Masonic Lodge, the Muscatine Moose, and Blue Grass American Legion – Post #711, where he served as past commander. Ray served as the past president of the Blue Grass Commercial Club, and was also a former Grand Marshall of the Blue Grass Homecoming Parade. He also enjoyed building and doing home projects.He is survived by his wife of 62 years; his three children; four granddaughters: Liz, Amanda, Lauren, and Tara; six great-grandchildren: Adam, Jake, Andrew, Luke, Kaitlyn, and Aiden; and three sisters: Mary Ann Cochran, Betty Hightower, and Lynda Murray.He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Dorothy and Martha, and his granddaughter, Angela.Memorials may be directed to Blue Grass Presbyterian Church or to the Blue Grass American Legion – Post #711.