Charles Perrin Willis ’44

Charlie Willis died Feb. 23, 2010, in a Pittsburgh VA hospital. He was 88.

One of the first Princetonians to enlist as a Marine after the Pearl Harbor attack, he was wounded leading his platoon of Marines up Iwo Jima’s Mount Surabachi, and was later discharged as a captain. A history major at Princeton, he was a member of Cottage Club, a freshman wrestler, and, after a championship season, captain-elect of the 150-pound football team — a reward that his enlistment prevented him from enjoying. His roommates were Charles Arnold and Richard Davis. He came to Princeton from the Taft School, where he was a top athlete and student leader.

During his lengthy career with the Fiberglass Division of PPG Industries, Charlie was district manager in Cincinnati, Houston, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh. He retired in 1982. His memberships included the Princeton Club of Western Pennsylvania, Phoenix Golf Club, and Cincinnati Country Club. He also was active in Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Episcopal Church.

For 54 years Charlie’s family vacationed in Charlevoix, Mich., where he co-founded DUNE, an organization that saved 27 acres of Michigan lakefront as a nature preserve.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Ruth Ramsey Willis; son David Ramsey Willis; daughter Laura Bullard Willis; and two grandsons.