Bradford - Willis D. Heaton, 92, of Bradford, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, OSF Richard Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Ill. He was born on Oct. 3, 1934, the son of Lester N. and Hazel N. (Harmon) Heaton, in West Jersey. He graduated from Toulon High School in 1952. He married Leona L. VanVooren on Oct. 26, 1957, in Kewanee; she survives and they would have been married 69 years.

Willis is also survived by his children, Gary (Elsie) Heaton, Kevin Heaton, Christine (Douglas) Dever, Lisa (Scott) Efnor, and Karen (Kent) Cobb; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Harley Heaton, Kenneth Heaton and Leland Heaton.

Willis served his country with the Army from 1954 until he mustered out in1956, he was assigned to the 7th Regiment of the 1st Calvary Division and toured in Japan and Korea. He was also a part of the Regimental Chorus. After serving in the Army, he spent 40 years farming.

Willis was a true outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing and trap shooting. He also enjoyed playing cards with friends and family. He was a member of Incarnation of Our Lord Catholic Parish (formerly St. Dominic) in Wyoming. Willis was an active man in his community; he spent seven years on the Braford School Board, three years on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Valley Rural Electric, he was a past Commander of Bradford Legion Post 445, a member of the Toulon Legion Post 416, and on the Stark County Zoning Board, a member of the Winchester Collectors Association, the Browning Collectors Association and the National Rifle Association.

Visitation will be held 10 - 11 a.m., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Incarnation of Our Lord Catholic Parish (formerly St. Dominic) in Wyoming. His funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at the church. Father Corey Krengiel will officiate. Burial will take place in Saint Dominics Cemetery in Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and OSF Richard Owens Hospice Home in Peoria in his honor.

Golnick Family Funeral & Cremation Services is handling arrangements. Please leave a condolence online for Willis’s family at www.golnickhaskellfh.com.