Cover photo for Dale Willis's Obituary
Dale Willis Profile Photo
1926 Dale 2021

Dale Willis

April 4, 1926 — April 15, 2021

Canton

Canton – Dale Claude Willis, 95, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at his residence.

Dale was a native of Hempstead County, Arkansas and a son of the late Claude Augustus and Ruth Clark Willis.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Herschel, Troy, and Paul Willis; a baby sister, Faye; a foster son, Dale L. Wood; four nephews, James, Dean, Dwight and Michael and one great-nephew, Shane Dale.  He lived most of his life in Haywood County and was a member of Rockwood United Methodist Church.  Throughout his life, Dale served as a Sunday school teacher, local and county wide UMC Youth Director, a lay delegate to the United Methodist Church Annual Conference, and an active participant with the Rockwood UMC Men’s Group.  Dale received the Torch Award in recognition of outstanding service to the children and youth in the Annual Conference.  He also received Lay Person of the Year in 1995 for the Western North Carolina District.  Dale helped to mold the future leaders of this country with nearly 65 years of service to Boy Scouts of America and was personally invested in countless scout’s lives, instilling confidence, personal responsibility, and character in Haywood County’s Pigeon River District, Troop 322.  Dale assisted over 30 scouts in achieving Eagle Scout Award.  In 1987, Dale was awarded the Damtoft Award for Troop 322 in recognition of his unselfish devotion and distinguished service to the Pigeon River District, the Kiwanis Club’s Man of the Year Award, in 1988 and the Governors Volunteer Award of Haywood County, in 2000.  Dale also enjoyed spending quality time with his beloved family.  He retired from Champion International and was a proud veteran of the United States Army.

He is survived by two sisters, Melba Goodyear and Bonnie Willis both of Canton; three nieces, Annette Paxton (Terry), Jannette Willis, all of Canton and Sheila Hannah of Alabama; two nephews, Cecil Willis of Weaverville and David Willis (Sherry) of Canton; foster grandsons, Dale L. Wood, Jr. (Brooke) of Greensboro and Cameron T. Wood of Sweden; foster great-granddaughter, Addilyn Wood; and several great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at Rockwood United Methodist Church with the Reverend Eric Hill and Reverend Steve Miller officiating.  Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Newfound Road.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boy Scouts of America – Daniel Boone Council, 333 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC  28801.

The care of Mr. Willis has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dale Willis, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, April 17, 2021

6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)

Wells Funeral Home - Canton

NC

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Funeral Service

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Rockwood United Methodist Church

288 Crabtree Mountain Rd, Canton, NC 28716

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