Willard H. Land - 669th Obituary

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Willard Horace "Sheriff" Land

1st Lt, Pilot

September 21, 1917 - July 9, 2009

669th Bombardment Squadron (L)

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From the Kerrville Daily Times:

KERRVILLE — Willard H. Land, 91 of Kerrville, Texas, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away July 9, 2009, at his home of natural causes.
Mr. Land was born Sept. 21, 1917, in Cass County, McCleod, Texas, to Jasper and Nellie Land.
After attending Belshear High School, he was attending The University of Texas at Austin when World War II broke out. He enlisted as an officer trainee/cadet in the Army Air Corps. He graduated as a 2nd Lt./Pilot in 1943 and flew 65 missions in the medium attack bomber, A-20 Havocs, in the European theater between February to October 1944, where he obtained the rank of first lieutenant. After he completed his tour of duty, he returned to the States, where he trained other new pilots to fly the medium attack bombers, making him truly one of the Greatest Generation.

Following World War II, he began a career in the oil and gas industry where he met Margery E. Crowe of Shreveport, La. They married on Dec. 24, 1945, and were together until her death in 1981. They settled in Midland, Texas, where they raised three children: twins boys, Mark and Miles, and daughter, Melissa. After retiring from 37 years in the oil and gas industry, he moved to Marble Falls, where he met and married Minnie Warren, until her death in 1998. He was one of the co-founders in the senior activity center in Marble Falls and president of the Lions Club in 1986-87. He later moved to Kerrville, where he became a member of the German Club and met his longtime companion, Nell Lenard of Kerrville. They enjoyed many years of dancing and traveling together. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kerrville.
He is survived by his son, Miles M. Land and wife, Myra Land; daughter, Melissa L. Lopez and husband, William Lopez; grandson, Ehren K. Land and wife, MonaLisa Land; and great-granddaughter, Simona and grandson, Jacob E. Land.

Memorial services will be at Grimes Funeral Chapels, Sunday July 12, at 3 p.m. Dr. Warren Hornung will be conducting the memorial service.
The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the “Send Condolences” link.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.

Online Obituary originally published July 11, 2009 at Kerrville DailyTimes.com