Virgil Willingham

Virgil "Willie" Willingham, 87, of Collins, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Mercy Regional Medical Center, Lorain, following a short illness.
Born June 11, 1928 in Redstone, Pennsylvania, he was raised in Pennsylvania before settling in Lorain in 1950.
Willie was a US Army veteran, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 451.
He worked for Ford Motor Company, Lorain Assembly Plant, as an inspector on the chassis assembly line retiring in 1989 after 30 years there. He was a member of the United Auto Workers Union Local 425.
Willie loved his yard and doing yard work. He also enjoyed handyman work and working with his hands. Willie was one who enjoyed life and was always there to lend a helping hand.
Surviving are his sons, Robert (Mindy) of Wellington, Walter of Norwalk and Arthur (Brenda) of Shadyside, Ohio; daughters, Wanda (Steve) Stevens of Webster, Wisconsin, Debra Willingham (Thomas Arno) of LaGrange, Elda (Curtis) Schwegel of Nisswa, Minnesota, and Gloria Willingham of Lorain; 18 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Pricie Mae "Pat" (nee Blankenship) Willingham in 2005; his son Billara Wolford in 1968; parents, Walter and Elda (Lovel) Willingham; a grandson, Willie Zeiter in 2006, and a granddaughter, Wanda Zeiter in 1988.
The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Monday at 1:00 pm in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery. To send online condolences go to www.dovinfuneralhome.com.