BILLY WILLIS, MSGT, USAF, (retired), Vietnam Veteran (3 tours) age 74, of Udall, Kansas, passed away Monday afternoon, February 21, 2011 at Via Christi/St. Francis Regional Medical Center following a battle with cancer.

Born on December 7, 1936 in Bartlick, Virginia, he was the son of Charlie and Mallie (Wallace)Willis. He was raised in Haysi, Virginia and attended Music School elementary and later graduated from Haysi High School in 1952.

Following graduation, he joined the United States Army and transferred to the United States Air Force in 1954. Billy was stationed in several locations over his 22 year career which included Louisiana, McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas; Cold Lake Canada, Nebraska, California, Illinois, Vietnam, Thailand and England. After retiring from McConnell Air Force Base in 1974 he began farming and graduated from Cowley County Community College. He was a federal inspector at Boeing Aircraft where he oversaw several projects, including the Air Force One and later was employed at Leer Aircraft.

He was united in marriage to Sharon Wilson on November 17, 2006 at the Country View Baptist Church in Udall. Billy was a life member of the American Legion Post #136 in Mulvane and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mulvane, Derby, Haysville and Winfield, Kansas. He was active in horseshoe and pool competition and enjoyed listening to music at RD's County Line, hunting, fishing and camping with family and friends.

His family includes:
His wife: Sharon of the home;
His children: Randy Willis and wife Sheryl of Sulphur, LA; Wendy Willis of Sulphur, LA; Denny Willis of Udall, KS; Etta Long and Joaquin of Udall, KS; Sonny Cooper and wife Stephanie of Udall, KS; Melissa Jantz of Belle Plaine, KS; Tommy Schwabauer of Wichita, KS; Desirae Budkis and husband Shawn of Oilton, OK; and Bobby Wilson and wife Amber of Enid, OK;
His brother: Harold Willis and wife Beatrice of Bee, VA;
His sisters: Connie Baker of Haysi, VA; Bonnie Kearney of South Barrington, KY; Shirley Gibson and husband Mack of Elkhorn City, IL; Judy Rexroad and husband George of Amissville, VA; and Katie Beauchamp and husband Mike of Unionville, IND;
His grandchildren: Kassie Augustin and husband Paul, Kaley Willis, Skyla Oquinn, Christina Edwards and husband Lucas, Allysa Martinez, Anthony Patterson, Hailey Long, Aaron Cooper and wife Jessica, Allen Cooper S.R.A. and wife Alice, Belinda West, Bill Melton, Heath Satterlee, Nathan Jantz, Tyler Jantz, Christian Duspaine, Brody Schwabauer, Gabriel Gudkis, Kaytlin Budkis, Kenneth Wilson, Alexandra Wilson; Kelsey Kibbe, Harry "Bubba" Kibbe and wife Wendy; Christie Sitton;
His great-grandchildren: Joshua Paul Augustin; Raina, Trinity and Isabella Oquinn; Annabel Owen, Payton Avarie and Sophia Cooper, Kevin, Tommy, Makayla and Mariah West; Carolai and Henry Kibbe;
His mother-in-law: Shirley Wilson of Wichita, KS;
His uncle: Bill Wallace and wife Evalie of Haysi, VA;
His aunt; Cora Mullins of Haysi, VA;
His 4 nieces, 4 great nieces, 7 nephews, 4 great nephews and a host of cousins including Carlie Mullins of Haysi, VA;
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Fred Willis; and his great-granddaughter, Kyla Patterson.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, February 25, 2011 at the Country View Baptist Church in Udall. Military committal honors will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Winfield, Kansas. Friends may call at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, February 24, 2011.