Willie Frank Chambliss' Obituary
Willie F. Chambliss was born in Lutz, FL on Nov. 10, 1933, to Clarence and Lemor Chambliss. He married in 1952, and resided in the Astatula and Bassville Park areas until his passing on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at the age of 75. Willie served in the Army as a helicopter mechanic in the 1950's. He then worked for Central Florida Sand Company in Tavares as a Dredge and Equipment Operator. He worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, under the late Willis McCall, as a guard. Willie then started working with the Lake County School Board as a bus driver, while attending Vo-Tech. He became a certified welder, as well as a certified A/C technician. On June 1, 1979, he started working for the Lake County Board of County Commissioners as an Equipment Operator, and continued with the County until his retirement on July 31, 1997, at which time he was the Parks Maintenance Supervisor. He loved to talk with people, loved fishing and had a true green thumb - he could make anything grow. Willie leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Debbie Chambliss Stivender of Tavares; Cathy Chambliss Puckett (Keith) of Charlotte, NC; Tina Chambliss (Steve Townsend) of Monroe, NC; two brothers, Junior Chambliss (Martha) of Leesburg; L.J. Chambliss (Connie) of Sylva, NC: and one sister, Mary Chambliss Caskey (Ron) of Tavares; seven grandchildren, Robbie Hall (Kelli) of Tuscaloosa, AL; Chris May of Charlotte, NC; Jenni Hall Walton (Chris) of Ocala; Tim and Jamie Stivender of Tavares; and Dakota and Hope Townsend of Monroe, NC; and six great-grandchildren, Shayne, Victoria and Emily Walton of Ocala; and Anna, Maya and Adam Hall of Tuscaloosa, AL. He was blessed with many friends over the years and will be greatly missed by many. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, or the local American Cancer Society in Leesburg. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 16th, at 3:00 p.m. at Steverson Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Home located at 226 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, 343-4444. A gathering of his family and friends will take place at the First United Methodist Activity Center (UMAC) located off of Old Hwy. 441 in Tavares.
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