Edward Alexander Willis

Edward A. Willis Oxnard, CA Ed Willis passed away peacefully on the morning of 11/16/2011. His long battle with Alzheimer’s is finally over. The terrible disease took away most of his recent memory but he always new his immediate family right up to his death. Ed was born on Feb 19th, 1921 on the family farm near Burkesville, KY. He lived there the first 16 years of his life and then moved to Ventura County. Originally he worked on farms around the Santa Paula and Somis areas before turning to the construction industry for the rest of his career. He built homes around the county including the two in Oxnard that he and his family lived in. Ed was highly regarded as one of the finest cabinetmakers in the area. He built and installed beautiful wood cabinets in many homes throughout the Ventura county area. One of his proudest accomplishments was the building of the cabinets in the President and Vice-President’s home at Pepperdine University. He spent more than 30 years working for one contractor here in the area. In 1942 Ed met the love of his life, LaVerne Cowden in Saticoy, CA. They were married on Feb 2, 1946. There almost 66 years of marriage is a true testimony of their love and commitment. Together they raised 2 children, their son Harlan Willis and Mary Gibbs of Oak View and their daughter Kristi & Tim Waite who live in Camarillo. Ed has five grandchildren who thought the world of Grandpa Ed! He was preceded in death by 2 of his grandchildren, Bobbi Drake and TJ Waite. He is survived by 3 grandchildren, Bryan Hill, Amanda & Jared Waite. Ed also enjoyed his 5 great-grandchildren, Kenni & Koleton Falls, Chase Drake and Austin & Ashley Hill. Ed was a sports fan of many different kinds of professional sports, but his true passion was auto racing. He attended five Indy 500’s during the 40’ and 50’s. He was a regular at all Southern California racetracks and enjoyed dirt track racing the most. His love for racing soon became a family lifestyle with the purchase of a ¼ midget for his son at the young age of nine years old. This lead to a fifty year long family racing history. Ed and his family raced all over the United States making numerous friends along the way. The life long friends that Ed made with the racing community he forever treasured. The family appreciates all your love and support and has asked that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Monday November 21, 2011 , 1:30pm at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Click for Map and Directions