David Sidney Willis' Obituary
Willis, David Sidney, age 75, of Richardson, Texas died of natural causes on December 20, 2010 at Richardson Methodist Hospital. David was born December 31, 1934, in Dallas, Texas to Elbert S. Willis and Lucile Atkins Willis. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1953 and a member of the Rice University graduation class of 1957 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. David married Faye Rathgeber Willis of Ft. Worth, Texas on June 7, 1958. David served in the United States Air Force, on active duty and in the reserves from 1959 to 1965. In 1959, David began his business career at IBM where he received five promotions in nine years. After nine successful years at IBM, David co-founded Computer Information Management, Inc., a predecessor corporation to DATACOM Systems, Inc., a company that provides network solutions to Fortune 500 companies all over the world. In 1975, David joined ATMOS Lighting, Inc., as its Chief Executive. David successfully reorganized ATMOS and restored its profitability before he sold the company in 1980. From 1980 to 1985, David worked as a business turnaround specialist and helped several technology companies improve their business operations and profitability. David joined Linx Data Terminals, Inc., in 1985, and served as its Chief Executive through 1999. In the late 1960’s, David taught Sunday school at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. David was an ardent supporter of the Dallas Classical Guitar Society, and served as its president and on its board of directors. For more than 40 years, David and his family have been members of Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson, Texas. While David enjoyed playing tennis and golf at Canyon Creek, most of all he cherished the many lifelong friendships he made at Canyon Creek. In later years, David enjoyed the study of genealogy and United States coins. David is survived by his wife Faye, daughter Julie Whitaker and husband Bert, daughter Carol Butrus and husband John, daughter Nancy Willis, sister Maryanne Willis, and grandchildren Christy Butrus, Alex Butrus, Willis Whitaker, Joseph Butrus, Jack Whitaker and many supportive and loving friends from his years in Canyon Creek and from his early years at Highland Park High School. David’s memorial service will begin at 2:00pm, December 27 at Canyon Creek Country Club, 625 West Lookout Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Rice University Undergraduate Initiative, P. O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251, or the Richardson YMCA Capital Campaign, 821 Custer Road, Richardson, TX 75080.
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