Willard George Mayer
August 25, 1923 - December 26, 2013
Obituary
Willard George Mayer
(August 25, 1923 – December 26, 2013)
Willard George Mayer was born in Norwich, Kansas, on August 25, 1923, to the parents of Sarah and Ernest Mayer. Willard was the youngest of 12 children: Herman, Clara, Edith, Freda, William “Bill”, Pearl, Albert, Mary, Ralph, Ruth and Margaret. He lived and worked on the farm with his family. They lived off of the land, growing their own food and crops, but they would go to the store to get lard, sugar, flour, and other essentials. Willard loved hunting, fishing and even trapping squirrels. He was spoiled by his sisters especially, since he was the youngest–they adored him. He is still adored by many.
On March 6, 1943, at age 19, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Willard was inducted into the Army. He was put into active military service on March 13, 1943. Willard was listed as a Tank Driver and Machine Gun Marksman. He served 2 years and 7 months in World War II. He was in the 737th Tk Bn, Tech 4. Army food must not have been plentiful because he was 155 pounds when he was discharged from his service to the Army and to our Country. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe, and eventually in the Battle of the Bulge. Willard received a Good Conduct Medal and then a Bronze Star by Authority dated June 7, 1945 “for distinctive service in connection with military operations against the enemy during the period of 24 July 1944 to 8 May 1945.” The Bronze Star was awarded to Willard for his quick actions in saving the men with him when the tracks were shot out from under their tank. After receiving instructions from his Captain, Willard’s famous words were “run for it”! Willard was honorably discharged from the Army on October 14, 1945.
In 1943, while he was still serving in the War, his father passed away. The Red Cross brought him home by train to be with his mother and family to attend the funeral. After a few days, the Red Cross provided return transportation back to the Army where he continued his faithful service to our country. Willard continued to send home half his pay to help support his mother and siblings. This money was later used to relocate his mother to her new home.
After leaving the service, Willard did a variety of odd jobs, and eventually began working for Boeing in Wichita for 3 years. Life soon changed for him when he went on a double date with his brother Ralph. Ralph’s date was Dorothy and Willard’s date was Eileen, Dorothy’s sister. Willard soon fell in love with Eileen and both couples ended up as married couples. Willard (one in a billion as he called himself) and Eileen were married on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, at First Baptist Church of Nash in Pond Creek, Oklahoma. Willard was 25 years old and Eileen was 20. Unfortunately, on the eve of their wedding night, Willard fell ill with a high fever which manifested itself in red dots and he was diagnosed with the German measles (Eileen was happy to hear it wasn’t just embarrassment).
In 1951, they welcomed their first son, Terry Lee, shortly followed by Cameron Lynn in 1952. In 1956, their third child, Dean was born. Not expecting to have another child, their “surprise” baby, Marlys Ann arrived in 1962, promptly in time for Willard’s birthday.
After being invited to attend church with a neighbor, Willard and Eileen gave their hearts to the Lord when their son Dean was only six weeks old. They moved to the Northwest after falling in love with its beauty in the late 1950’s. Willard was handy fixing and building things. He loved to work with his hands and made tables, chairs, end tables, turtle foot stools, storage sheds, shutters, cedar chests, carports, birdhouses, you name it. Willard also used his skills to help his sister Mary and her husband Paul Bailey build a church in the White Center area. They purchased their first home in 1958 where they still resided until their deaths. Willard painted houses, drove taxis, and was later hired on by The Boeing Company in Seattle, where he was trained and became a jig builder. Willard worked for Boeing for 35 years until he eventually retired in December of 1988. The last 3 years of his work at Boeing was in the Black Hole, where he worked on the Stealth Bomber.
He loved his children, made sure daily devotions were shared, his family attended church whenever the doors were open, and family meals were spent together. If you received a call during dinner time, you were to politely say you were eating dinner and would call back. Willard loved to take his boys fishing and hunting also until health challenges in 1973 changed his lifestyle. After his grandchildren were born, he loved to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening and canning, teaching them how to prepare the vegetables before preserving them. They loved their grandchildren and were active attending functions for both school and church. They also opened their hearts and home to their young granddaughter Tricia Mayer helping raise her into adulthood.
Willard was always active in his church, serving wherever needed as well as on the board as a deacon for several years. At Southgate Assembly of God, he mowed lawns, led the song service, cared for the church, and even picked up families, and giving them rides to church. They would often have friends over after service and visit and sing while serving their favorite treat, bread with melted butter and cinnamon and sugar on it, freshly toasted in the oven. In 1983, Willard and Eileen arrived at Westwood Christian Assembly of God church in White Center where again he served on the board and wherever else needed, faithfully supporting church ministries until their deaths. They always loved their music and were involved in musical groups with their friends from the churches they attended, as well as teaching Sunday School classes. Willard often played his guitar and sang at nursing homes. Willard and Eileen had just celebrated their 56th Wedding Anniversary in 2005 when he lost his beloved Eileen after a four year battle with Ovarian Cancer.
He is survived by his four children, Terry Mayer, Cami Wallin, Dean Mayer (Kerri) and Marlys Lewis (Jackie).
Willard was blessed with 9 grandchildren: Don Wallin, Jr., (Michelle), David Wallin (Jennifer), Tricia Lerwick (Kirk), Tony Mayer Hutchinson (Tina), Justin Mayer, Stephanie Morrison (Alex), Tiffany Castaneda (Karl), Alex Mayer and MacKenzie Mayer.
His “Greats” include: Dillon Wallin, Emilie Wallin, Jackson Lerwick, Kolten Lerwick, Alexis Lerwick, Adelyn Faith Wallin, Eric Wallin, Cristiano Castaneda, Brody Mayer, Chase Hutchinson, and Kaden Hutchinson. Last and not least, he is survived by his loving church family of Westwood Christian where he attended faithfully since 1983.
Willard was one of the sweetest, loving men of God you will ever meet. He always had a big smile, a warm handshake, a great sense of humor, and a huge heart for God.
If you asked him how he was feeling, he would answer “with my fingers”.
P.S. Don’t ask him about his hearing…
We love you dad, papa, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor and friend. May you be in peace and celebrate heaven’s joys with your beautiful wife and your Lord and Savior. We love you now and forever…
I know our dad is looking down from heaven even right now, smiling on us and thanking us all for being here…all the while asking, are you ready to meet Jesus?
YOU WERE THE BEST ROOM-MATE ANYONE COULD HAVE. I’LL MISS YOU VERY MUCH!!! TERRY
I totally adored Willard – he was the very best man I have ever met. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. I know he is in Heaven looking down on all of us with that twinkle in his eye and smile on his face. You will forever be in our hearts.
We will miss you, but you are with your bride and the Lord.
Dad, I love you now and forever. You were the best dad ever! We even shared our birthdays together. I loved hanging out with you, whether it was chores, yard work, working on the church, fishing. You were my friend as well as my dad. You always had a twinkle in your eye and loved it when you were together with your children. I always felt special when I was with you, thank you for walking and living the way a Christian man should live and love his family. You were the best! You blessed so many in your life, you served your Country, your church family and your loved ones. I will miss you forever, but have a brain full of wonderful memories of our times together. Thank you for the privilege of being one of your children, I love you so much!!!