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A celebration of his life will be on March 26 at 5 p.m. at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Visitation will be two hours before the service.
Mr. Willard's main role throughout his 40 years as a
missionary was to train Latin American young people
for the ministry. He was also instrumental in
writing and translating materials into Spanish for
use in Latin American Bible schools and churches.
He was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Fowler, Kansas. He
married Amy Hankins of Ravenna, Neb., in 1942, and
she died after the birth of their third child. In
1952, Burleigh married Alma Gregory of Bluffton, Mo.
She died in 2003.
He is survived by four children, Celia Rose Milslagle
of Lincoln, Francis Burleigh "Frank" (and
Jean) Willard Jr., of Littleton, Colo., Emily Sue
(and Bob) Fairbanks of Arlington, Texas, and Gregory
Philip "Phil" (and Linda) Willard of Lake
Barrington; one brother, Johnnie (and Noralee)
Willard of Stockton, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and
five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Opal
Ruth Willard, and a brother, George Archibald
"Archie" Willard.
He and his first wife served together as Free
Methodist missionaries in the Dominican Republic for
six years before she died. After his second marriage
and the birth of their son, they returned to the
Dominican Republic with the four children. In 1959,
the Willard family transferred to Nogales Bible
School in Nogales, Ariz., where Burleigh and Alma
remained until they retired in 1985. |
After retiring, they lived in the Phoenix, Ariz.,
area for about 15 years, then moved to the Glencroft
Christian Retirement Village. The year after Alma's
death, Burleigh moved to a son's home in Vernon
Hills for a year. After that he resided in a
daughter's home in Lincoln, where he lived until
entering The Christian Village four months
ago. During those five years, he was received warmly
as a part of Neighbors to Nations Community Church.
He attended Central College in McPherson, Kan.,
and graduated from Greenville College in
Greenville. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry in
Theology degree and a master's degree in Spanish
literature.
Memorials may be sent to The Christian Village,
1507 Seventh St., or Neighbors to Nations Community
Church, 304 N. McLean.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the
Willard family. |
