Willis V. Busby, Jr. (75) of Effingham

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Published on August 3 2017 10:56 am

Willis V. Busby, Jr., 75, of Effingham, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at Heartland Christian Village in Neoga.

Funeral services will be held at Christ’s Church in Effingham at 3 p.m., Sunday, August 6. Interment will immediately follow at Dillman Cemetery in Sailor Springs. Visitation is scheduled at Christ’s Church from 1-3 p.m. preceding the services. Memorials may be made to Christ’s Church of Effingham. Online condolences may be left by clicking here.

Willis was one of a set of triplets born Christmas Day in Hoosier Township, Clay County, December 25, 1941, to Willis V. Sr. and Grace Marie (Tooley) Busby. He attended Clay County High School and was afterwards drafted into the United States Army in early 1964. He proudly served until he was called home due to the death of his mother. On October 18, 1969, he and Gladys Ruth Bailey were wedded at the First Christian Church in Flora, Illinois. Shortly after their marriage, Willis was baptized at the First Christian Church in Flora. He worked as a Journeyman in the Plate Room at World Color Press (later Quebecor World) from the early 1970’s until his retirement in 2004. After his retirement, he became the custodian at his beloved Christ’s Church in Effingham. He was known for his selfless service to the Lord, his dedication to the church, and his boundless good nature. He could often be seen with a cup of coffee in one hand and Bible in the other, and always had time to stop and chat.

Willis is survived by his wife, Gladys Ruth Busby of Effingham; daughter, Georjanna Grace “Jan” Atlan and husband Samuel of Wilmette; grandchildren, Claire Ruth Atlan and Isaac Daniel Atlan; brother, William “Bill” Tooley and wife Sara of Flora; nieces, Brenda (Tooley) Streif and husband Brian of Louisville, and Pamela Tooley of Flora; great-nieces, Shannon Streif of Cedar Hill, MO, Victoria Streif of Flora, and Jennifer Streif of Louisville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters: Wanda Busby, Wilma Busby, and Margie (Busby) Durre.