Obituary of John D. Willis

John D. Willis, 78, of Freehold Township died Saturday, April 29, 2017 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Neptune Township and was a lifelong resident of Freehold. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was a Freehold Township Police Officer from 1967 until his retirement in 1999. He was Chief of the Department for 23 years. Mr. Willis was a graduate of Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in 1978 and was Coordinator of the Freehold Township Office of Emergency Management for 32 years. He was a member of the Monmouth County Police Chief’s Association, a Gold Life Member of the New Jersey State P.B.A., and a charter member of the Freehold Township P.B.A. Local No 209. He was chairman of the Battleground District, Boy Scouts of America for five years. He was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Freehold. He was a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 16, F. & A.M. and the Scottish Rite. He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Jeanine; two brothers, Larry Willis and Leslie H. Willis, and a sister, Lucille Vactor. Surviving are three daughters, Leslie Willis and husband Chris Davis, Littleton, Colorado, Lindsey Nappi and husband Kenneth, Freehold, and Lauren O’Donnell and husband Jeffrey, Freehold Township; a sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Lou Tovey; and four grandchildren, Reed, Britney, Ryan, and Madison. Visiting hours will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Freehold on Friday at 2:00 p.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold. Olive Branch Lodge No. 16 services will be held on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the St. Peter’s Church Capital Building Fund, 33 Throckmorton Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 would be appreciated.