Ronald Porter Willis & Thora Isabella Brown Willis

Sept. 20, 1926 – July 8, 2015

March 8, 1931 – July 8, 2015

Ronald Porter Willis, 88, and Thora Isabella Brown Willis, 84, of Idaho Falls, died July 8, 2015, as the result of a tragic car accident on I-15 near Plymouth, Utah.

Ronald was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Cowley to Andrew Wesley Willis and Amy Elizabeth Porter Willis. He grew up in Laramie and graduated from the University of Wyoming. He earned a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He was a field geologist in many parts of the world and taught geology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the last 28 years of his career. Ron served his country in the Navy during World War II.

[caption id="attachment_10040" align="alignright" width="300"] Ronald Porter Willis & Thora Isabella Brown Willis[/caption]

Thora Isabella Brown Willis was born March 8, 1931, in Lovell to Frank Hunter Brown and Delilah Hatch Brown. She grew up in Lovell and graduated from Lovell High School. She attended BYU, earning a bachelor’s degree in music. She was a homemaker and piano teacher.

Ron and Thora were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Sept. 8, 1953. To this union were born five children: Andrew, Patty, James, Elizabeth and David. Ronald and Thora lived all over the world, making their home in Eau Claire, Wis., for 28 years before settling in Idaho Falls in 2005.

They were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ron served as a bishop, and Thora served as choir director, organist, pianist and Relief Society president. Ron enjoyed photography, singing and playing the guitar. Thora enjoyed singing, piano and gardening. She was active in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers as a teacher and storyteller.

Ron and Thora are survived by son Andrew Wesley (Sheryl Lee) Willis of Fruit Heights, Utah; daughter Patty Christiena (Mary Lou Prince) Willis of Salt Lake City; son James Robert (Miow-Lin Yap) Brown Willis of Idaho Falls; daughter Elizabeth Willis of Middletown, Conn.; son David Ronald (Jennifer Ream) Willis of Ashburn, Va.; Thora’s brother James Frank Brown of Logan, Utah, and her sister and best friend Suzanne Anderson of Fruit Heights; Ron’s brother Robert Willis of Laramie; 14  grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Thora was preceded in death by her parents. Ron was preceded in death by a sister, a brother and his parents.

If you would like to give a gift on behalf of Ron and Thora Willis, their children have set up a memorial page to honor them at Heifer International, a charitable organization that empowers families all over the world to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity (http://fundraise.heifer.org/willisronthoramemorial).

Combined funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at the Coltman LDS 1st Ward building, 12448 North 5th East, in Idaho Falls, with Bishop Blair Sautter officiating. A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 16, at 4 p.m. at the Lovell Cemetery. The family invites family and friends to come to the Relief Society room at the Lovell Stake Center Thursday at 6 p.m. to share memories of Ron and Thora.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.