James Milton Willard
Virginia Beach – James Milton Willard, 94, passed away December 24, 2008. Born in West Virginia, he was the son of the late John and Lula Willard.
Jim served in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sargeant and was a veteran of WWII. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with six Bronze Stars, the American Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, The Good Conduct Ribbon, and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Jim was a retired electrician who volunteered at the public library where he bound books, and also volunteered at Virginia Beach General Hospital where he took care of the electrical services.
He leaves behind his two daughters, Lula Keefer and her husband Richard, and Kela Kramer and her husband Richard, both of Virginia Beach; three grandchildren, April Debolt and her husband Richard, Mason and Jessica Kramer, all of Virginia Beach; his brother, Eugene Willard of Charleston, W. VA; and his sister, Virginia Petry of Swiss, W. VA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Martha Ellen Willard.
A Memorial Service will be held 5:30 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009, at Sentara Windermere Nursing Center, 1604 Old Donation Parkway in Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, 800 Tidewater Drive in Norfolk, 23504. Condolences may be offered to the family at altmeyer.com.