Donald Eugene Willits, Sr.

1937 - 2025  (87 years)

• Name	Donald Eugene Willits
  Suffix	Sr.
  Born	12 Nov 1937	McLouth, Jefferson County, Kansas
  Gender	Male
  Died	26 Mar 2025
  Buried	4 Apr 2025	Rossville Cemetery, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Person ID	I13172	Rossville
  Last Modified	28 Dec 2025

  
  

  Father	John Franklin Willits,   d. 22 Oct 1986
  Mother	Dorothy May Martin Willits,   b. 29 Mar 1910, McLouth, Jefferson County, Kansas ,   d. 13 May 2000, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas  (Age 90 years)
  Married	28 Aug 1928	Platte City, Platte County, Missouri
  Family ID	F7449	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Delores L Willits
  Married	23 Jn 1959
  Children	1. Donald Eugene Willits, Jr.   2. Debbie Willits   3. Karen Willits Overbey   4. Sharon MaeLynn Willits Beyer,   b. 28 Aug 1970, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Last Modified	28 Dec 2025 20:09:05
  Family ID	F3023	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 12 Nov 1937 - McLouth, Jefferson County, Kansas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Documents

  Obituary- Willits, Donald E. Donald E. Willits November 12, 1937 – March 26, 2025 Donald E. Willits, 87, of Rossville, died on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Donald Eugene Willits passed away on March 26, 2025. He was born on November 12, 1937, in McLouth, Kansas, to John and Dorothy Willits. He attended McPherson College on a football and basketball scholarship, graduating with degrees in history and government, industrial arts, and secondary education. He obtained a master of education in guidance counseling from Emporia State University. Don began his career in Welda, Kansas, by teaching history and government as well as coaching the football team. Upon his hiring, he discovered the football field was simply a pasture that needed measuring and prepping in order to hold games—another task to add to his responsibilities. After two years, he moved his family to Rossville, Kansas, where he worked at Rossville High School (Go Dawgs!). He started out teaching history and government along with coaching football, basketball, and, in his later years, track. Once he achieved his master’s, he became the guidance counselor, lasting until his retirement after a total of thirty-seven years. Don was a lover of car restoration, gardening, and the outdoors and was an avid reader of WWII history and books about the American West. His prized possessions were his 1956 Ford Crown Victoria and 1957 Ford Fairlane Hardtop Retractable. He loved driving the Crown Vic to the annual Lawrence Automotive Swap Meet with his brother Jack; his brother-in-law, Bob; and his nephew Walt. He met his wife, Delores, on the co-rec volleyball court while at college, where he swore she tripped him to get his attention. They were married on January 23, 1959, in a union that spanned sixty-six years. Don was adored by all his grandkids, who called him “Papa.” Papa always had time to play, throw a ball, read a story, or push a swing, and he was never without ice cream. He was famous for reminding his daughters, and later his granddaughters, to “Drink your milk, Kathy.” He made sure to wave goodbye from the deck of the house he built after every visit. He is survived by his wife, Delores; his son, Donald Eugene (Karen) Willits Jr., and three daughters, Debbie Willits, Karen (Bill) Overbey, and Sharon (Craig) Beyer; eleven grandchildren, Kevin (Alyce) Willits, Allison Willits, Rebecca (Chase) Freeborn, Kurtis Willits, Kendall Willits, Katie (JJ) Attaway, Eric (Lindsey) Overbey, Kelsey Overbey, Kayla (Joel) Clark, Nick Overbey, and Megan Beyer; sixteen great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Allan (Lorene) Willits, Kenneth Willits, and Shirley Thiry. Don is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Donald L. “Jack”, and his wife, Barbara Willits, and his brother-in-law, Bob Thiry. Don will forever be remembered by his family for his loving kindness and by his students for being a constant, safe presence with an open door to all. A visitation was held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, April 3 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. A graveside service took place on Friday, April 4 at the Rossville Cemetery in Rossville, KS.