Robert Dale Willison (96) of Bible Grove

Robert Dale Willison, 96, of Bible Grove passed away peacefully at 5:21 pm Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Heritage Woods in Flora.

Robert was born on December 14, 1925, in Effingham County, the son of Ira, Sr., and Tillie (Weigel) Willison. He served his country honorably in the US Army during WWII, he then returned home and married Betty Lou Zink, on January 24, 1948, in Effingham, Illinois and they shared 64 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on December 1, 2013. Robert worked as a farmer his whole life, having worked and help establish the first farmers market in Effingham. He raised many chickens over the years and went door to door and sold eggs. Robert received an award for all his work with Ag in The Classroom, he wrote letters to kids in the Chicago area, and they would write him back. He even wrote 2 books about his life and his life story. It was said that Robert was a very much a people person having never meet a stranger.

Robert is survived by his children: Sharon (Robert) Lauderback of Flora, Joyce (David) Toombs of Teutopolis, Clifford Willison of Louisville; 4 grandchildren: Nicholas Toombs of Memphis, Tennessee, Lisa (Jordan) Pals of Teutopolis, Angel Walden of Flora, Jodi (Rodd) Engelmeier of Flora; 8 great grandchildren: Maddux Pals of Teutopolis, Gavin Pals of Teutopolis, Alyssa Walden of Flora, Cameron Walden of Flora, Cody Houston (Bradlyn) of Flora, Bianca Engelmeier of Carbondale, Lizabeth Engelmeier of Carbondale, Allie (Jeremy) Edwards of Dieterich; 10 great great grandchildren: Niomi Walden, Cash Houston, Linkin Houston, Brooke Houston, Elaina Houston, Emerson Houston, Kyleigh Edwards, Jace Engelmeier, Emmett Edwards, Luca Edwards; 2 brothers: Ira Willison, Jr. of Johnsonville, Kenneth Willison of Xenia; sister-in-law: Carol Willison of Louisville.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers: Wayne and Keith Willison; sister: Treva Russell.

Funeral services honoring the life of Robert will be held at 10:30 am Friday, September 30, 2022 at the McGriff Funeral Home in Louisville with Gene Birch officiating. Burial will follow with military honors at the German Methodist Cemetery, rural Bible Grove. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening at the funeral home where friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers. Memorials may be made in Robert’s memory to the Clay County Farm Bureau (Ag in The Classroom) or the Donor’s Choice. To sign the guestbook online or share a memory of Robert please visit by clicking here.