Gladys Mae Willis, 96, of Little Rock, Ark., died Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
Willis was the widow of Ernest Willis, who died in 1967 attempting to save an 8-year-old boy from drowning in a concrete drainage ditch which had overflowed due to heavy rain in Little Rock.
In keeping with Commission founder Andrew Carnegie’s wish that those financially dependent upon heroes “should not suffer pecuniarily,” Willis was given a continuing monthly grant for 51 years, lasting until the time of her death. Her son Donnie contacted the Commission to express how very thankful they were for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and how much his mother appreciated everything that was done for her.
Willis is survived by her children, Mary, Donnie, and Debbie.