Donald Ray Willmott

DONALD RAY WILLMOTT

Cedar Rapids

Donald Ray Willmott, 95, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, from complications after a long battle with leukemia. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Westside Chapel, where a visitation will begin at 9 a.m. The Rev. Carol Sundberg will officiate. Inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Donald was born Feb. 18, 1923, on a farm three miles east of Waubeek, Iowa, the son of Charles and Lela (Pratt) Willmott. He graduated from Central City High School in 1940. He was a proud veteran, having joined the U.S. Navy in November 1942. He served as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Div. and was in the Sept. 15, 1944, landing on Peleliu Island and the May 1, 1945, landing on Okinawa. On Nov. 1, 1947, he married Loretta Kepler in Martelle, Iowa. Loretta passed away on Jan. 11, 2006.

Donald is survived by his sons, Dennis (Linda) Willmott of Jericho, Vt., and David (Janice) Willmott of Morrisville, N.C.; and his grandchildren, Daniel Willmott of Cincinnati, Ohio, Stephanie Willmott of Austin, Texas, Coleman (Sara) Grau of Pensacola, Fla., and Hannah (Galen) Tsun of Redwood City, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leo; and four sisters, Rubie, Ruth, Lois Jean and Kathryn.

Donald worked at Penick & Ford and Penford Products for 39 years. After retirement, Donald volunteered at St. Luke's Hospital for a total of 14,700 hours. Most of those years were in the Senior Health Insurance Program helping people with insurance problems. Donald was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 727.

Memorial donations may be given to the Meth-Wick Community, 1224 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405; St. Paul's Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; or the Anna Purna Ghosh Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1248, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406.