Eugene “Gene” Willis was born October 31, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Lithuanian immigrants Anthony and Anna Willis. He died peacefully on Monday, November 28, 2016, in his newly adopted hometown Stuart, Florida.
Eugene graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bradley University in 1950. He then served 3 years in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. After military service Gene worked for a variety of major insurance companies before establishing his own insurance business in Manhattan Beach, California. Specializing in small group medical coverage, he continued to service his customers for the next 40 years, finally retiring at the age of 86.
A longtime resident in the South Bay Area (California), Gene was instrumental in the creation of the South Bay Free Clinic and active in Kiwanis, square dance club Pioneer 8’s, and a supporter of the South Bay Civic Light Opera and other local theatres.
Eugene is survived by his three children, Cara Willis Smith and her husband Terry, Kurt Willis and his wife Kathi, and Erik Willis and his wife Connie; three grandchildren, Kelsey, Keira and Connor; and his 38-year Life Partner, Sue Poindexter and her sons, Chris Poindexter, Larry Poindexter and his wife Carol, and her grandchildren, Jake and Rees.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions as a memorial may be made to the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation for the Illinois Delta Chapter at Bradley University. (SigEp.org/Give or 310 S. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220).
An online guestbook is available at www.treasurecoastseawinds.com.
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