WILLARD, Alma Winifred

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona December 3, 2003 Alma Winifred Gregory Willard 85, passed away after a long illness, on November 29, 2003 at the Glencroft Christian Retirement Community, Glendale, AZ. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and taught in the Missouri public school system until her marriage to Rev. F. Burleigh Willard in 1952. She is survived by her husband, of Glendale, AZ, one sister, Opal Upschulte, of Jefferson City, MO, and her son, Gregory Philip (Phil) Willard of Vernon Hills, IL. She is also survived by her husband's three children, Celia Rose Milslagle of Lincoln, IL, Francis Burleigh Willard, Jr., of Littleton, CO and Emily Sue Fairbanks of Arlington, TX, whose mother died unexpectedly when they were very small. They gladly accepted Alma as their "new" mother and love and honor her to this day as "Mom." She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends. After the wedding, Alma accepted appointment along with her husband as educational missionaries in the Dominican Republic and later at Nogales Bible School, Nogales, AZ, a training school for ministerial students from Mexico. She also wrote and edited literature in Spanish for our training programs and served as Mission Treasurer. Since the Bible School was moved into Mexico in 1965 and is now operated by national personnel, she again entered the field of public education, earning the degree of Master of Education, and teaching first grade in the Nogales Public School system until her retirement in 1985. Visitation 9:00 AM, Funeral service at 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 6, 2003 at Chapel of the Chimes, 7924 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ. Interment will follow at Resthaven Park Cemetery also in Glendale, AZ.