Ralph Willis Jr.

Ralph Willis Jr. Ralph Willis Jr., age 81, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at his residence. Ralph was born the son of Ralph Willis Sr. and Leona (Bultman) Willis on March 27, 1933, in Carrollton, Missouri. He was 1951 graduate of Chillicothe High School, Chillicothe, Missouri. He was united in marriage to Joan Gerhardt on May 11, 1958 in Chillicothe, Missouri. She survives of the home. Ralph began working for Mart Drug in 1950 as a delivery boy and clerk. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After serving in the in the U.S. Army he attended the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Pharmacy. When he graduated in 1958, he returned to Mart Drug as a pharmacist and assistant manager. He was then promoted to Pharmacy Manager of the store in 1967 a position he held until he purchased the store in 1983 and changed the name to Mart Pharmacy. In 1995 Ralph sold the Store to Hy-Vee, where he continued to work as a Pharmacist until his semi-retirement. Ralph was an avid coin collector, he was a past President for the Collectors Club in Chillicothe; he loved photography, Bailey Studio and Shannon Photography often used his yard for senior pictures as well as weddings. He loved working in his yard, planting trees and flowers. He had a great sense of humor and was a sponge for knowledge. He loved spending time with his grandkids. Survivors include his wife Joan of the home; two sons, Jim Settle and wife Stephanie of Kansas City, Missouri, and Larry Settle and wife Kammie of Overland Park, Kansas; two daughters, Jennifer Surface and husband Ed of Kansas City, Missouri, and Melanie Christie and husband Charles of Paradise Island, Bahamas; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gerald Willis of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Larry Willis and wife Pat of Oklahoma; two sisters, Karen Manning of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Marlene Thomas of Columbia, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister-in-law Shirley Willis and one brother-in-law Jack Thomas. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. There will be a scheduled family visitation on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on June 25, 2014 from 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Help and may be left at or mailed to the Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.