In Memoriam : William Gillis

William Gillis William Edward Gillis - age: 81
(June 07, 1936 to October 17, 2017 )
Resident of Lemon Cove, California

Visitation Information:
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Evans Miller Guinn Chapel. Services will be in the chapel on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm followed by a burial in the Woodlake Public Cemetery.

Obituary:
William (Bill) Edward Gillis passed away peacefully October 17, 2017, in Lemon Cove, Calif., surrounded by family and friends. He was born June 7, 1936, in Sanger to Robert and Blanch Gillis. He attended Sanger High School. On Sept. 16, 1956, he married his sweetheart, Velma Stone, of Reedley, in Reno, Nevada. They recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. Bill worked for four years with the Forestry Department as a firefighter. He then joined the Air Force, where he served four years as a jet mechanic at George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif. After his discharge he was employed for 34 years with Caltrans. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors. For many years he served as the leader for the Boy Scout troop in Lemon Cove. Bill also enjoyed reading, gardening and working on various woodworking projects in his workshop. Bill is survived by his wife, Velma; his daughter, Carol, and husband Richard Santana of Lemon Cove; grandchildren, Misty, and husband Ryan Wallace of Woodlake, Lori, and husband Thomas Dixon of Visalia, Melissa Santana of Exeter, Ryan and wife Amy Gillis of Exeter, and Rena VanMeter of Oregon; great-grandchildren, Chase, Connor and Cayden Wallace, and Dominic Gillis; great-great-grandchildren, Skylar Dixon and Ellis Kravetz; his sister in law Virginia Sowl of New York and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and siblings, he was preceded in death by sons, Don and Ron Gillis, and a granddaughter, Alicia Santana.