James Willey Obituary, Death – On December 3, 2022, James Lawrence (Larry) Willey, who was 84 years old and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away at home surrounded by his family. He was the son of Dr. Edward Willey and Evelyn (Perry) Willey, who welcomed him into the world on April 12, 1938 in Findlay, Ohio. In 1956, he received his diploma from Defiance High School, which was located in Defiance, Ohio. Between the years 1957 and 1960, he participated in collegiate basketball at the University of Cincinnati, where he also was an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He attended the University of Cincinnati from 1956 until 1962.
He received his degree in Architecture from the institution. He was selected by the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA basketball league, but he declined the offer to complete his study and instead attended Washington University, where he earned his master’s degree in business administration in 1964. On May 7, 1966, he wed the woman who would become the love of his life, Joan Schultze. Larry was well-known for his devotion to both the University of California Bearcats and his family. After graduating from college, he began his career in real estate by taking a position as a manager with Coldwell Banker West Shell Realtors.
He remained in that role until 1995, when he made the move to Gerdsen Garfield commercial real estate. In 1985, he presided over the Cincinnati Board of Realtors as President of that organization. He dedicated a significant amount of time for the community and was involved with organizations such as the Western Hills-Cheviot Masonic Lodge and the Monfort Heights Kiwanis Club. He played golf frequently and was a member of the Clovernook Country Club, which is where he and his other golfers spent a great deal of time together. He served as an usher at the Monfort Heights United Methodist Church for a considerable amount of time and was an active member of the church.
Participating in the activities of his children and grandkids was the source of his greatest happiness. He was a loving father to his children Mark L. Willey (Paula), Dr. Laura E. Gottron (Bryan), and Bethany A. Brock (Clint), all of whom live in the city of Roswell, Georgia; Centerville, Ohio; and Indianapolis, Indiana. He had seven grandsons, Andrew, Nate, Colin, Jacob, Logan, and Caden, and he adored each and every one of them. He and Joan cherished the time they got to spend with their friends, family, and other bridge players, as well as the time they got to spend traveling and watching their grandkids compete in various sporting events.
He is survived by his wife Joan F. Willey and his parents as well as his brother Dr. Edward Frank Willey (Janet), who both passed away before him.
On Friday, December 9, 2022, visitation will begin at 10 am and continue until the time of the Funeral Service at 12 pm. Both events will take place at Monfort Heights United Methodist Church located at 3682 W Fork Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45247. After the service, interment will take place at Spring Grove Cemetery.