Charles Lynn Willis, age 90, of Centerville, passed away Friday, November 18, 2022. Charles was born in Floyd County, IN, on November 30, 1931, to Clarence and Dorothy Willis.
Chuck was a high school teacher and principal, university professor and administrator and foundation executive. He honorably served in the US Army and Indiana Military District Army Reserve. Chuck came to Dayton from Tallahassee, FL, where he was associate professor and head of the Department of Educational Leadership, Florida State University.
In Dayton Chuck was program officer for the Education Program of the Kettering Foundation. He left the Kettering Foundation to become executive director of the University Council for Educational Administration, an international consortium of university programs working to advance research and preparation programs in educational leadership.
During his career Chuck served as executive director of the Mental Health Associations of the Miami Valley, as well. Chuck retired from Wright State University where he was professor and associate dean, College of Education and Human Services. He was named professor emeritus upon retirement.
After retirement Chuck serviced as executive vice president of the Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, MI. He was also the Institute’s vice president for consciousness studies. More recently Chuck served on the Board of the Wright State University Retirees Association and on the University’s Athletics Council.
Chuck and his wife, Martha, joined Normandy United Methodist Church in 1968. Along with his parents Chuck was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Martha; sister Winifred Boudreau; sister-in-law Nancy Tullis; sister-in-law Linda Willis; and nephew Mark Petry. Chuck is survived by his son Steven Willis (Wendy) and daughter Karen Lewis (Paul); grandsons: John Lefforge (Marcie), Jesse Lefforge (Mollie), Kyle Willis (Madison), Caleb Willis (Kaitlin), Joseph Lefforge (Mackenzie) and Nathan Willis (Haley); great grandchildren: Landon Willis, Jameson Willis, Grace Willis, Olivia Lefforge and Skylar Stodd Lefforge; brothers: Richard (Janis), Larry (Marty), Paul Allen (Barbara) and Danny Joe Willis.
Services were held on December 3, 2022 at Normandy United Methodist Church. Inurnment was at David’s Cemetery. Arrangements in care of The Final Legacy. Words of encouragement may be sent to www.reislegacycenter.com.
