Ernest Francis Wills, 1909 - 1998 - Generation 7
s/o George William Wills
The source of the clipping above is unknown but assumed to be from the Chillicothe Gazette, Chillicothe, Ohio. It reads, "Five generations of Ernest and Delores Wills family include, standing left Ernest, granddaughter Rhonda Schneider, son Ronald and seated left Delores and great-granddaughter Kristin Schneider holding great-great-granddaughter Megan.
Ernest was born in Vinton County, Ohio. He began working in retail sales as a young adult. From 1932 until 1950 he delivered milk. During the years of the World War 2, he served in Company H-166 Infantry Machine Gun Company in the US Army. From 1950 to 1970 he was a plumber and built a successful business in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Ernest built one of the last real log cabins in the Ross County, Ohio area in 1939. Shown below is a newspaper clipping from the Chillicothe Gazette, Chillicothe, Ohio, dated Aug. 5, 1996.
The text in the above article reads, "Wills family. This log cabin was built by Ernest Wills and family friends. The logs were hand hewn on the home site and may be the last real log cabin built in the area. The house is located on West junction Road near Trippie's restaurant. Holding the fish are, left Ernest Jr., Ronald and Robert and seated, David Wills. The photo was taken in June 1939 and submitted by Delores Wills."
It was my pleasure to meet Ernest and his wife Delores in their home in 1996. Delores provided me much of the information on this branch of the family from her personal records.
Ernest and Delores Wills soon after being married.
Source: Rhonda Schneider
Descendants of Ernest Francis Wills
1 Ernest Francis Wills Born July 26, 1909 in Vinton Co., Ohio Died April 14,
1998 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio Age at death 88
. +Dolores E. Speakman Born June 29, 1912 in Ross Co., Ohio Married October 29,
1929 in Greenup, Ky. Marriage Fact Married by Rev. Marsh, Methodist Parsonage
Father Mr. William Eleven Speakman Mother Ms. Cora Ann Kempton Died September
10, 1998 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio Age at death 86
2 Ernest Francis Wills, Jr. Born September 22, 1930 Died April 19, 1953 Age at
death 22
2 Robert Theodore Wills Born January 18, 1932 in Ross Co., Ohio
... +Sandra Louise Weir Born February 25, 1933 in Ross Co., Ohio Married July
02, 1954 in Ross Co., Ohio ? Marriage Fact Married by Rev. Raymond Stockman
Father Mr. William C. Weir Mother Ms. Corrine Elizabeth Pyle
2 Ronald Lee Wills Born June 15, 1934 in Ross Co., Ohio
... +Beverly C. Hester Born June 29, 1932 in Ross Co., Ohio Married March 06,
1952 in Ross Co., Ohio Marriage ending 1970 Father Mr. Frank Hester Mother Ms.
Bula Jenkins
*2nd Wife of Ronald Lee Wills
... +Mary Dolores Francis Born September 22, 1948 Married May 12, 1970 Marriage
ending 1974 Father Mr. Gwen Francis Mother Ms. Patricia Gerling
*3rd Wife of Ronald Lee Wills
... +Marjorie Burns Born April 14, 1934 Married June 24, 1978 Father Mr. Clyde
Burns Mother Ms. Ruth Sampson
2 David Allen Wills Born September 03, 1937 in Vinton Co., Ohio Died June 1998
Age at death 60 est.
... +Sarah Francis Gallagher Born November 29, 1941 in Ross Co., Ohio Married
June 07, 1959 in Ross Co., Ohio Marriage Fact Married by Rev. H. Hammond
Marriage ending 1981 Father Mr. Robert Gallagher Mother Ms. Eleanor Morgan
2 Nancy Ann Wills Born January 05, 1941 in Jackson Co., Ohio
... +Orval Ray Gatten Born February 27, 1936 in Ross Co., Ohio Married June 12,
1959 in Ross Co., Ohio Marriage Fact Married by Rev. Raymind Stockman Father Mr.
William Gatten Mother Ms. Crystal Spears
2 Lucinda June Wills Born April 12, 1951
... +John D. Cunningham Born June 29, 1951 Married March 14, 1970