Violeta M. Willis

VIOLETA MARIA MICHAELA HERRERA DE WILLIS, age 79, of Joppa, MD, died on August 28, 2006 at her home. Born in Havana, Cuba, she was the daughter of the late Marcial Doroteo and Rosa Velasco Vasquez Herrera. She came to Maryland in 1963, when her husband, the late Linton “Bud” F. Willis, Jr., accepted a position with Aberdeen Proving Ground. Since July of 1967, they made their home in Joppatowne, MD. A homemaker, she enjoyed entertaining friends and cooking Cuban foods. Feeding and taking care of birds, especially her favorite, the hummingbird, was something she loved to do. She also loved to travel having traveled to Alaska (1993), Hawaii (2001), Italy (2004), Las Vegas (2005), and numerous trips to Jacksonville, FL, to see her daughter Alicia, son-in-law, Ronnie, and her granddaughter, Caitlin.

Mrs. Willis is survived by two daughters; Alicia Maria Snyder, and her husband Ronald, of Jacksonville, FL, and Janice Willis Westberry, and her husband Douglas of Abingdon, MD; two brothers; Orlando Herrera, and his wife Donna, of Kansas City, MO, and Jorge Herrera, and his wife Gladys, of Kansas City, MO; one sister-in-law, Lillian Carlton of Winter Haven, FL; one granddaughter, Caitlin Elizabeth Snyder of Jacksonville, FL; six nieces, Yolanda Cabrera of Miami, FL, Sandra Priscal of Miami, FL, Andrea Shumate of Kansas City, MO, Stacey Gonzalez of Kansas City, MO, Cecilia Tapia of Kansas City, MO, and Arlene Lee of Kansas City, MO; two nephews, James Carlton of Miami FL, and Robert (Bob) Carlton of Polk City, FL.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Linton “Bud” F. Willis, Jr., and two brothers, Guillermo Herrera and Ramiro Herrera.
Pallbearers will be Tony Priscal, Orlando Herrera, Jorge Herrera, Eddie Gonzalez, Dan Bradford, and Terry Lijewski.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Baltimore, 6601 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21204.