Wilbur Neal (Bud) Willis, Sr.

Wilbur Neal (Bud) Willis, Sr., 94, formerly of Tifton passed away on Friday, January 11, 2019, at Merrill Gardens in Woodstock, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, January 19, 2019, in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Chip Grantham officiating.  Burial will follow the funeral service at Oakridge Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. preceding the service.

Donald Spanberger, Ryan Willis, Marc Cooper, Chip Dellinger, Rick Rhoden and Joe Benado will serve as pallbearers.

Mr. Willis was born on April 17, 1924, in Tift County.  He was the son of the late Artie Brown Willis and Elva Blalock Willis. Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of seventy years, Martha Louise Mathis Willis who died November 3, 2015, his brother Donald Willis and sister Jean Willis Jackson.

He graduated from Berrien County High School, then joined the Merchant Marines during World War II.  After his time in the military, he served as the manufacturing manager of Scroll, Inc. in Miami  from 1957-1977, where they manufactured wrought aluminum furniture.  While living in Florida, he loved to fish.  In 1977, he moved back to his home town of Tifton and worked with the Agrirama, later being promoted as President and awarded the Governor's Award for Outstanding Service in State Government in 1987.

Mr. Willis is survived his two sons and daughters-in-law; Neal and Ruth Willis of Port St. Lucie, FL. and Mike and Rhea Willis of Canton; his five grandchildren and their spouses; Karin and Joe Benado, Jenni and Marc Cooper, Ryan Willis, Megan Willis, and Alyssa Willis; two great grandchildren; Nicholas Benado and Emily Benado and several nieces and nephews.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.