Lillian Maxine Willis

Lillian Maxine "Lil" Willis, 81, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at Aldersgate Village following a more than six year battle with Alzheimer's. She was born February 4, 1929 to G. Lawrence and Esther Coffin Curry in Pleasanton, KS. She attended schools in Prescott, KS and graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1951.

She married Paul Willis in Prescott on August 12, 1951. After serving one year as high school librarian in Wamego, KS, she and Paul lived in Lompoc, CA, later moving to Marshall, MO, then to Manhattan, KS, then to Topeka in 1957.

Lil was a loving wife to Paul and a loving mother to four children. While their children were all in school, she began employment as school librarian at Tecumseh South Elementary School, retiring after they finished college. After retirement, Lil was a volunteer for the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and Friends of the Library. She was an active member of Highland Park United Methodist Church where she worked in the church library and played an active role in the United Methodist Women.

Survivors include her husband; Paul, four children; Karen (Tom) Sim of Bowie, MD, Bob (Teresa) Willis of Goodland, KS, Kent (Deb) Willis of Leon, KS, Sheila Sumpter of Topeka, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, twin sister; Louise (Keith) Gilmore of Starkville, MS and two brothers; George (Elaine) Curry and Bert (Irene) Curry of Greenfield, IN.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Private inurnment will take place in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 S.E. Michigan Ave., Topeka, KS 66605 or to the Friends of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604.