Elva Willis

Elva Geraldine Willis was born April 9, 1917, on a farm in Lincoln Township, south of Walnut, Iowa. She went to be with her Lord, March 23, 2005. Her parents were Harley and Ida (Maassen) Davis. The family moved to a farm in Layton Township. She grew up on the farm and went to country school and graduated from Walnut High School, with a teacher"s certificate, in 1938. In 1938, she and Brother Eugene started farming the Lincoln township farm with their Dad. A few years later Earl and Elva farmed there. In 1946, Elva moved to Berkley, California and later to Oakland, California. She worked as a long distant telephone operator for 25 years, retiring in 1972. Elva was united in marriage to Kenneth Willis, November 1, 1959, at Oakland, California. Elva became a frequent visitor to a Senior Citizen Center, in Oakland, California and learned to paint beautiful scenery pictures, with oil and acrylic paints. She moved to Atlantic, Iowa in September of 1989. She did many crafts, including knitting and she was a seamstress. She also decorated cakes and loved gardening and flowers. Elva was a member of Evangelical Free Church in California and continued her membership in Atlantic. She did volunteer work at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab and The Chestnut Tree Gift Shop. Elva was a resident of The Allen House from July 1999 to February 2001, when she moved to Atlantic Nursing & Rehab.Preceding her in death were her husband Kenneth Willis, in 1963; her parents Harley and Ida Davis; two brothers Eugene Davis, December 1984, and Earl Davis, March 2000; sister-in-law, Beulah Davis; brother-in-law Dale Petersen, June 1998 and a step daughter Patricia Paxton.Survivors are sisters Dorthea Petersen, Atlantic, IA, Shirley and husband Delmar Nielsen, Council Bluffs, IA; sister-in-law Arlene Davis, Hancock, IA; stepchildren Jerry and Judy Willis, of California, stepson-in-law, Lynn Paxton, of Idaho and five step grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.A funeral service will be held at the Evangelical Free Church at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, March 26. Pastor Terry Schoenfeld will officiate. Following, the family will join guests at a luncheon in the church fellowship hall. The interment will be in the Walnut Cemetery at 3:00 P.M. Friends are welcome to open visitation, to sign the register book and to view at Roland Funeral Home.The family has requested memorials be made to the Evangelical Free Church in memory of Elva.Funeral InformationREMEMBERING ELVA WILLISBorn April 9, 1917Walnut, IowaENTERED INTO RESTMarch 23, 2005Atlantic, IowaAt the age of 87 years, 11 months, 14 daysFUNERAL SERVICESaturday, March 26, 2005One O"clock P.M.Evangelical Free ChurchAtlantic, IowaOFFICIATINGPastor Terry SchoenfeldEvangelical Free ChurchMUSICAL SELECTIONS"Take My Hand Precious Lord&""How Great Thou Art&""Amazing Grace&"SINGERS Heidi Roland B J Roland Spencer Roland Jo Beth RolandBEARERS Dan Nielsen Paul Harvey Brian Wiersema Brian Petersen Jon Eichhorn Ken WelkFLOWER COMMITTEEChurch FriendsINTERMENTWalnut Cemetery Walnut, IAIn appreciation, Elva"s family would like for you to join them for a lunch and fellowship at the Evangelical Free Church following funeral services.