Obituary of Eugene Avery Willis

Mr. Eugene Avery "Gene" Willis, age 84, resident of Auburndale, Florida passed away Monday, June 19, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Mr. Willis was born March 13, 1939, in Pontiac, Michigan to Adrian Taylor and Nora Hall (Wolfe) Willis. He and his wife have been Florida/Michigan snowbirds since 2000 and became permanent residents in 2021. Gene was a retired Maintenance Manager for Ford Motor Company in Michigan. He enjoyed watching baseball, doing yard work, working on different projects, and spending time with his family and dogs. He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous brothers and sisters. Gene is survived by his wife of 31 years – Ruth Willis of Auburndale, Florida. He is also survived by his three sons – Jeffrey (Tanya) Willis of Lakeland, Florida, Douglas (Beth) Willis of Lupton, Michigan, and Richard (Heidi) Willis of Austin, Texas, and his daughter – Carole (Rick) Owen of Bedford, Wyoming. Gene also has two stepsons – Keith Wilder of Michigan and Mitchell Wilder of Portland, Oregon, and one stepdaughter – Paula Hartwig of Michigan. Gene is also survived by his brother – Gerald (Margaret) Willis of Oviedo, Florida, as well as 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. There are no services scheduled for Mr. Willis.