William Willis Bryan, 96, of Valley View Road in Waterbury Center, passed away at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center on Monday evening, March 19, 2007. Born in Montpelier on May 8, 1910, he was the son of the late Frank and Inez (Stuart) Bryan. On June 26, 1940, he married the former Corinne Martin in Barre.
Willis, as he was commonly known, was a 1928 graduate of Montpelier High School. He attended the University of Vermont for one year where he was an active and proud member of Delta Psi fraternity before transferring to Yale University where he joined his two brothers, Frank and Burton. He graduated from Yale in 1934 with a degree in economics. During WWII, Willis served his country as a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy. Willis was employed by General Electric for 40 years, working first in Seattle, WA, and then in San Marino, CA, retiring as the district manager.
Willis' grandparents owned a farm on Maple Street in Waterbury Center where he kept strong ties throughout his life. He purchased the farm and lovingly maintained it as his summer residence. Moving full time to Waterbury Center in 1990, Willis and Corinne built a home on Valley View Road while maintaining their summer farm house on Maple Street.
His memberships included the Free and Accepted Masons and Shriners, the Lake Mansfield Trout Club in Stowe and the Waterbury Historical Society. In his leisure time, Willis enjoyed fly fishing, collecting antiques, reading and maintaining friendships with folks he had known since childhood. In 1980, Willis wrote and published the book titled <MI>The Bryan Family<D>.
Willis is survived by his wife of 67 years, Corinne Bryan of Waterbury Center; their daughters, Constance Tuft and her husband Mark of Moraga, CA, and Pamela Bryan of Pasadena, CA; two grandsons, Daniel Tuft and Andrew Tuft; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by two sisters, Barbara Backus and Lillian Proctor; and three brothers, Stuart Bryan, Frank Bryan and Dr. Burton Bryan.
A service of remembrance will be held from the Bethany United Church of Christ in Montpelier on a date and time to be announced. Private interment will take place in the Bryan Family Lot in Waterbury Center. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com. The Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury is assisting the family.
