Obituaries
 By  Staff Reports Published 
5:11 pm Wednesday, February 23, 2022

John David Willis

John David Willis, 63, passed away Feb. 23 at home in Russellville.

David was a Russellville High School graduate and a proud truck driver before retiring from the road. He is the oldest son of John Walter Willis and Anna Colleen Willis of Russellville.

David was a music fan and motorcycle lover, and loved dogs and his family. He loved to hunt and fish and was exploring a new hobby of rockhounding and gemstone collecting. He was an avid reader and will be remembered most for his sense of humor and vast knowledge of trivia, interesting topics and colorful conversations.

He is survived by his mother, Anna Colleen Willis, of Russellville; his sister, Dawn Willis Thorn and Donald Thorn, of Red Bay; his sister Joni Willis Bryan, Ashland City, Tenn.; nieces and nephews Amber and Tyrus Arthur, Nashville, Tenn., Rachel Bryan, Knoxville, Tenn., DeeAnna Heym and Jason Heym, Huntsville, Whitney Thorn, Tuscaloosa; and great-niece Aoife Heym.

He also was loved by many aunts, uncles, cousins, special friends, fellow truckers and colleagues. We will miss our beloved uncle.

The family will honor David’s life Feb. 26 at noon at Spry Funeral Home, 907 Jackson Ave. S., Russellville. Information can be found online at www.sprymemorialchapel.com.

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *