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On June 11, 2011 he was married to Melba Minich Betts at York. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in York, the Community Christian Church of Apache Junction, the York Masonic Lodge, the Elks Club and the Eagles Club.
He is survived by his wife Melba of York; two sons: Vance (Pat) Willits of Grand Island, NE and Vinson (Charlene) Willits of Ocala, FL; two daughters: Vicki (Del) Poole of Tulare, CA and Vanita (Mike) Aloisio of Kalamazoo, MI; a step-daughter Diane(George)McCall; ten grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his brother Kenneth Willits of Omaha, NE and a sister Welcome Alt of Seal Beach, CA.
He was preceded in death by his former wives Muriel Virginia Willits in 2003 and Catherine Deprez Willits in 2008 and a grandson Virgil Logan Willits.
He was a life-long hunter and fisherman who took pride in his retirement home on the Platte River. He loved to cook for a crowd, in his garage for fellow hunters, at the VIP resort in Apache Junction for other snowbirds, or for family at the Willits reunions. He was a Nebraska Cornhusker fan, an artful storyteller, a skilled gardener and canner, and a generous neighbor and friend. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a good friend to many.
Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the mortuary with a “Meet and Greet” Sunday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Private family burial in York’s Greenwood Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 23, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in York with the Reverends Michael Eickhoff and Murry Johnston officiating. Memorials may be directed to the church or a charity of your choice.