Rev. Dr. Willis Irvin, Jr.
Augusta, GA – Rev. Dr. Willis Irvin, Jr., 86, of Augusta, GA, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. Born April 28, 1925, in Augusta, GA, he was the son of the late Willis Irvin, noted Augusta Architect and Willye Augustus Stuart Irvin. Educated at Richmond Academy, Rev. Irvin graduated from The Citadel and Erskine Theological Seminary.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Irvin of Augusta, GA; daughter, Anita Irvin of Augusta, GA; brother, Rev. Dr. H. Stuart Irvin of Asheville, NC; and sister, Helen Irvin Dowling of Winston-Salem, NC, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
An Army veteran of the Second World War, Willis participated in the Allied invasion on Omaha Beach at Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, was at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and concluded the war in Berlin. For valor in combat he was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, EAMET Campaign Medal with one Silver Star, Good Conduct, American Campaign, WWII Victory and Belgian Fourragere. He returned to Normandy for the 40th, 50th and 60th Anniversaries of the D-Day invasion. Irvin’s autobiography, The Point of the Arrow, recounts his military service.
As a retired Presbyterian minister, he conducted many tours of historic homes designed by his father Willis Irvin, Sr., Architect. He was also an avid tennis player and was listed 14th in the 2008 Southern Sectional Rankings in the 80 year old category Men’s Singles by the United States Tennis Association. He was known for his work in local prison ministries, soup kitchens, rescue missions and with the homeless. He was a member of the Greene Street Presbyterian Church and Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church where he was involved in mission work. The Irvin family would like to thank Guy, Wright and David McLeod for their care, love and support for Willis and heartfelt thanks to the Georgia War Veterans Home faculty and staff.
Burial, with military honors, will be on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at Summerville Cemetery and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church with Rev. Paul Sherwood officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2261 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com