Lawrence C. Wills

Lawrence C. “Larry” Wills, 100, of Grants Pass, passed away at Cascades of Grants Pass on November 13, 2023.

Larry was born on July 19, 1923, to Ward and Minnie Wills in Plevna, Montana.  Larry moved to the City of Rogue River when he was 12 years old and graduated from Rogue River High School in 1941.  After graduation, Larry spent two years at Willamette University in Salem.  He then went into the Air Force during World War II as a turret gunner on a B-17.  Larry spent a year in Horham, England with the 95th Bomber Group, flying more than 25 missions over Germany.  As the war ended, Larry moved back to his hometown of Rogue River.

On November 30, 1946, Larry was married to Patricia A. Turner of Grants Pass. Larry and Pat were married for over 75 years before Pat’s passing in November 2022.  Larry and Pat had three children, Chris Frame, Charles Wills and Susan Voltz.

Larry worked for the Oregon State Police for over eight years, and in 1957 was hired as a Special Agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Larry and Pat lived in several cities across the U.S., including Fresno, CA, Olympia, WA, New Orleans, LA and Portland, OR.  Upon retirement in 1979, Larry and Pat moved back to Grants Pass.  Larry was very active within the Rogue River community, serving on the board of the Rogue River Fire Department, Woodville Museum, Rogue River Community Center and the local VFW.  Larry enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a long-time member of the Grants Pass Golf Club.

Larry is survived by two daughters, Chris Frame and Susan (Mark) Voltz, and one son Charles (Donna) Wills; five grandchildren: Nicole Suk, Miles Frame, Holly Halter, Marie McNally, and Jeff McNally.  Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren: Ashley, Joshua, Emily, Tyler, Aiden, Ryan, and Nora.

 A funeral service will be held at the Hull & Hull Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m. on December 1, 2023.

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