Edward Juan Willis

Edward J. Willis, 84, passed on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at The Columbus Colony Care Center, with family around his bed. He was the first graduate of East High School to have been the principal of the school serving from 1971 to 1986, when he retired from the Columbus City Schools. Mr. Willis was a lifelong resident of Columbus Ohio. Proceeded in death by his father John Henry Willis, his mother Mamie (Harmon) Willis and his brother LeRoy Willis. Survived by his wife Catherine (Talmadge), his children Steve, Wendie, and Scott (Tricia) Willis, his sister Bettie (Herbert) Carroll, God-Grandchildren, William, James, and Katie Huston Mr. Willis graduated from Columbus East High School in 1944. He served his country in the United States Navy where he received an honorable discharge. He attended Delaware State College in Dover Delaware and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Willis received a Masters of Education from The Ohio State University in 1958, with further study in Mathematics. As a teacher with Columbus City Schools, Mr. Willis received several Dupont Fellowships in Science and Math (1957, 1958) and several National Science Foundation Fellowships in Mathematics and Science (1959, 1960, 1961). He also received a Danforth Fellowship from the Danforth Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri (1975). Mr. Willis was an administrator at Champion Middle School. He was Assistant Principal from 1961-1963 and Principal from 1963-1970. He also served as Principal for the summer school and night school sessions held at Champion. Mr. Willis became Principal of East High School in 1971 and served the school faithfully until his retirement in 1986. His educational affiliations include life membership in the Ohio Educational Association. He was also a charter member of the Central Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Black School Educators. Following his retirement from Columbus City Schools, Mr. Willis was a full-time accountant in his own business, Willis Accounting and Tax Service. He retired from this business in 2001. Mr. Willis was a 50-year plus member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Lambda Boule. His other community affiliations include the Near Eastside Council, the Mt. Vernon Avenue Business Men’s Improvement Association, Board of Directors of the Big Brothers Association of America, Columbus Urban League, NAACP, Education Advisory Committee of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Chairman of the Educational Division of the United Negro College Fund of Central Ohio, Board of Directors of the Ohio State Student Loan Foundation, Board of Directors of the Franklin County Society for Crippled Children. Mr. Willis was a life-long member of St. Philips Lutheran Church, where he served as President of the Church Council in 1965 and again in 1973. A community celebration will be held at East High School, this Sunday, January 9, 2010 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Donations may be made to the Edward J. Willis Scholarship Fund and mailed to 191 Melyers Court, Columbus, Ohio 43235.