Gladys Willig

Mrs. Leon (Gladys) Willig, age 85, of West, passed away early Saturday morning, June 3, 2006 at West Rest Haven. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Church of West with Rev. Gene Kotrla officiating. Burial will follow at Closner Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Willig was born May 2, 1921 in Ross, the daughter of Ernest and Mary (Kreder) Heitmiller. She attended schools in Ross and graduated from West High School in 1938, where she excelled in basketball. On December 28, 1940 she was united in marriage to Leon Willig in West. He preceded her in death on April 25, 1999. Gladys was the plant manager for Lorch Manufacturing Company in West for 27 years before she retired in 1983. She was a longtime and faithful member of First United Church in West. Gladys enjoyed sewing and doing stain glass work. She especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her parents; a brother, Bobby Heitmiller; and a sister, Mildred Grossman; also preceded Gladys in death. Survivors include a son, Weldon Willig and his wife Carolyn of The Woodlands; two daughters, Janet Crain of West and Carol Sparks and her husband, Jerry of Gholson; a brother, Gene Heitmiller of West; a sister, Ruth Ann Cozby of Lubbock; seven grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Pallbearers are Dr. David Crain, Itzak Naor, Gary Jones, Dr. Donald Willig, Ricky Sparks, Ronnie Sparks, and Ross Vickers. Memorials may be made to the Closner Cemetery Association.