My 1st cousin once removed Robert Kenneth "Bobby" Willis, Jr. Contact: Randy Willis www.randywillis.org randy@randywillis.org Robert Kenneth "Bobby" Willis, Jr. joined the Navy in August of 1939 after graduating from Natchitoches High School. He served for 16-months on the USS Arizona which arrived at Pearl Harbor on Saturday, December 6, 1941 and was sunk the next day by the Japanese. He enlisted in the Navy in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and was the first casualty of that Parish in World War II. The American Legion Post in Pineville, Louisiana was named the Robert K. Willis Jr. Post in honor of his service and duty to his country. He is entombed in the USS Arizona at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Robert Kenneth "Bobby" Willis, Jr. father was Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. who was born January 15, 1877 and died June 30, 1951. He was a butcher and cattleman. Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. married Eulah "Eula" Rosalie Hilburn in 1903. Eula was born March 10, 1884 and died February 6, 1919, at age 34, of the flu (she is buried at Lecompte Cemetery). Eula is buried next to her parents, Charles Hilburn (1858-1943) and Francis Hilburn (1860-1930). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. and Eula Rosalie Hilburn Willis had the following children: Flossie Litton Willis (b. August 5, 1905; d. September, 1985 - married a Tomlinson), and Ilie Jewel Willis (b. March 8, 1907; d. May, 1995 - married Carl Close). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. then married Julia Mae Johnson on June 13, 1922. Julia Mae was born September 4, 1899 and died February 17, 1934, at age 34 (she is buried at Leesville Cemetery). Both of Robert's wives died at age 34. Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. and Julia Mae Johnson Willis had the following children: Robert "Bobby" Willis. Jr. (b. February 2, 1923; d. December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor - buried on the USS Arizona), Glenn Dewey Willis (b. May 8, 1924), and Billy Edward Willis (b. June 2, 1925; d. August 6, 1991). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. died of a heart attack. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Pineville, La. Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. parents were Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. (1839-1900) and Julia Ann Graham Willis (1845-1936). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr.'s siblings were: Henry Elwa Willis (1867-1945), Carvelia S. Willis (1869-1941), Minnie R. Willis (1870-1921), David Eugene Willis (1872-1880), Corine Willis (1873-1873), Dr. Daniel Oscar Willis (1875-1935), Ruthey Madella Willis (1880), Stella Willis (1881-1881), Julia Coatney Willis (1883-1945), and my grandfather Randall Lee Willis (1886-1940).