The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Joseph Jerome Will, 60, born and raised in southeast Texas, passed away February 23, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Daniel Rose, of Community Church in Orange. Cremation will follow under the direction of Claybar Haven of Rest Crematory.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Saturday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Beaumont, Feb. 17, 1956, he was the son of Homer Will, Sr.

and Erma (Burrows) Will.

He was the department manager over seven different departments with the City of Orange and retired in 2013 after 38 years.

Joseph was instrumental in the building of Lion’s Den Park and also involved with Northway Park and several other parks in the area.

He helped coordinate the city Easter egg hunt every year for 38 years and was very involved in getting the city back together after hurricanes Rita and Ike.

He was a loving husband, father, and Papa Joe to his grandchildren.

A devoted and dedicated friend, and a go to guy for all of us who knew and loved him, he had a heart and passion for those who were sick and hurting.

He spent many hours visiting and praying for those he knew and for countless others he had never met prior to walking into their hospital room and introducing himself with a message of hope and an offer to pray for them.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Sue Will; children, Bridget and D.J. Wilson, of Orange and Heather and Rob Williams, of League City; grandchildren, Ashton, Jayden, Rhylan, Teagun and Colbin Wilson and Elliot, Ila and Louis Williams; siblings, Donnie Will and wife Judy, Homer Will, Jr. and wife Pam, Brenda Barker and husband Harold, and Sue Neal and husband Steve; father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Margaret Romeis; brothers-in-law, Terry Romeis and wife Tess, Kenneth Romeis and wife Susie and Steve Romeis and wife Lisa; sister-in-law, Pam Brown and husband Ben; along with numerous nieces, nephews and loving family.

For those who wish, memorial contributions can be made to the MDA/ALS Center at Houston Methodist Neurological Institute 6560 Fannin St., Suite 802 Houston, TX 77030.