Weston Earl Willis, Sr.

Weston Earl Willis Sr., 84, of Davis, went home to be with Jesus on April 24, 2019. To his family he was larger than life, both in stature and in his love for his family.

His service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC. Officiating will be Rev. Tim Marriner and Rev. Rylan Jones with a graveside service following in Davis, NC at the Oscar Davis Cemetery officiated by Rev. Jimmy Mercer.

Born February 12, 1935, he was the son of the late Julius Gray and Lila Dare Willis. To his family and friends, he is also known as “Dad,” “Pops,” “Pop Pop” or Weston Earl. Being raised on Davis Shore with a father as a commercial fisherman, he spent many a day on the water. He graduated from Smyrna High School in 1952, and yes, he did play basketball, a question he was asked hundreds of times over the years due to being six feet nine inches tall. He then decided to become a Pirate and attend East Carolina University graduating in 1956 with a BA in English and a minor in Mathematics. His summers were spent with a clam rake in his hand to help support his family. He later received his Masters in Education from the University of Virginia.

While living in Virginia, he worked in Arlington County for 35 years as a High School Teacher. He started out teaching English but decided he liked numbers better and spent the majority of those years educating young people in the field of Mathematics. Although his professional career took him away from Davis, the salt water never left his veins. His children remember that as soon as school would let out, the family would hurry to pack up sandwiches and load the car with what was needed to head back home to Davis for the summer.

After retiring in 1991, he moved back to Davis Shore to build his dream home and be around his family. He was a member of the Davis Free Will Baptist Church for almost 70 years, serving as a Trustee, teaching Sunday School and helping with the monthly Men’s Breakfast. He was baptized at the age of 9 in Core Sound. The last few years, he attended Glad Tidings Church in Morehead City because of his desire to worship beside his family.

He was known to have an opinion from time to time and he usually didn’t wait very long to let you know what it was! Whether it be his views on politics (Republican), football (Redskins) or just life in general, he never met a stranger and could sit and talk for hours. He enjoyed being a host and having people over at his home. Over the years, one of his favorite things he looked forward to were the family seafood dinners. Pop Pop would do much of the prep work and then when the family would arrive, he would “try” to sit back and allow everyone else to do the cooking, but it never failed he would always speak up every time he felt like you weren’t doing it his way. Everyone knew that if it wasn’t done like Pop Pop wanted, it wasn’t good enough.

One way he enjoyed spending his time was traveling - going on cruises to the Caribbean, visiting Myrtle Beach, Hawaii and Europe. He also attended many dinners and conventions supporting the Republican Party as well as his church. It was very likely he could be seen standing outside working the polls around election time. Up until recently, he would attend ECU home football games with his family, acting as their tour guide telling stories from the good ole days, wearing the biggest grin as he was so proud of his alma mater.

Although he could intimidate you with his size, deep down he was really a big ole softy, especially when it came to his grandkids. There was nothing better than a weekend or summer at Pop Pop’s because you knew that you would be spoiled rotten and loved unconditionally. He has always taken such pride in his family jumping at any opportunity to tell others of the accomplishments they had achieved. He never missed anything. Every sporting event, graduation, wedding and big occasion- you could always count on him being there. He will be missed more than words can describe. He was truly one of a kind.

He is survived by his sons, Geoffrey Paul Willis and Janice of Oak Island, Weston Earl Willis Jr. and wife Sheila of Davis; daughter- Lisa Willis Belangia and husband Robbie of Arapahoe; grandchildren, Ashley Jones, Caleb Willis, Matthew Hill, Kristin Marceau, Heather Leibowitz, Jessi Keller, Justin Willis; and many special, great-grandkids, grand-dogs, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by sisters Virginia Whitehurst Willis, Gladys Fay Davis, Jean Willis Saulmon and Joan Willis (twins); and brother Jeffrey Paul Willis.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Munden Funeral Home.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.