The Rev. Dr. Urvan E. Wills, 96, of Weston, passed away, Friday, June 8, 2002, following an extended illness.
He was born at Elkins on May 22, 1906, a son of the late Harry U. and Grace Brown Wills.
On June 18, 1928, he married the former Ethel M. Corder, who preceded him in death in April of 1996.
He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Margaret Taylor and husband, Earl D., Charleston; one son and daughter-in-law, Don U. Wills and wife, Virginia, Weston; five grandchildren, Douglas Taylor, Fairmont, David Taylor, Charleston, Leigh Taylor, Charleston, Mrs. Dan (Debby) Clark, Danville, and Mrs. Gilbert (Donna) Adams, Crestwood, Ky.; and six great-grandchildren, Erin and Jennifer Taylor, Fairmont, Michael and Brandon Taylor, Charleston, and Levi and Kyle Clark, Danville.
He was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Carol Ann Wills; one brother, Herbert Wills; and one sister, Mrs. Leola Flowers.
Mr. Wills was a 1923 graduate of Elkins High School and a 1927 graduate of Davis & Elkins College. He was a 1930 graduate of Boston University with a degree in sacred theology. He received his doctor of divinity degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1956.
He has been a Methodist minister since 1927, serving in the Massachusetts Conference until 1930, when he returned to West Virginia and became a full member of the West Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in 1931.
At the time of his death, he was the longest serving minister of the West Virginia Conference. He served churches in Nitro, Terra Alta, Richwood, Spencer, Weston and Bluefield. He served twice as district superintendent, first in the Beckley District and later in the Bluefield District. He also served as assistant to the statistician of the West Virginia Annual Conference from 1931 to 1937, assistant to the secretary of the West Virginia Annual Conference from 1937 to 1942, and secretary of the West Virginia Annual Conference from 1942 to 1961.
Following his retirement in 1971, he was appointed and served as parish visitor of St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Weston from 1974 until 1994.
Friends may call at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Weston, Tuesday from noon until the funeral hour at 2 p.m. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. John Neagley and the Rev. Dr. Michael Linger officiating. Interment will follow in Maplewood IOOF Cemetery in Elkins. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ministries of Memories Fund of the St. Matthew United Methodist at 120 E. Third St., Weston, W.Va. 26452 or to the Broad Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, Broad Street, Weston, W.Va. 26452.
