Clyde Willis, 86, of Wheelersburg, OH passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Hill View Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center, Portsmouth, OH. He was born August 18, 1939, in Sciotodale, OH to the late Harold and Dane (Woodrum) Willis and also preceded in death by his wife, Sandra (Percell) Willis on April 19, 2025, whom he married July 15, 1961, in Lyra, OH.
Along with his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother: Harold Eugene Willis Jr. Those left to celebrate his life are three sons: Clyde “Stan” (Kelly) Willis II, Harold James (Laurie) Willis and Jason Lee (Andrea) Willis; nine grandchildren: Sarah Phipps, Lacey Gonzales, Amelia Hoffman, Hannah Phipps, Lyndlee Willis, Joel Willis, Clyde “Trey” Stanley Willis III, Maggie Willis and Drew Willis; eight great grandchildren; two sisters: Ruth Ann Flower, Janet Sue Flower and several friends and family that will miss him greatly. Clyde is a 1957 graduate of Portsmouth East High School and joined the United States Army Reserve in 1958 and served for seven years. He attended the Ohio College of Applied Science, receiving an associate’s degree in engineering in 1961 and also in 1964 he attended Tri State College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with high honors. Clyde was employed by ODOT in 1964 as Project Engineer until 1968 when he was employed by J.J. Blazer Construction as Chief Engineer and Vice President of the company. During his employment there, he worked with the Angel Corporation, and the company purchased 80 acres of land on both sides of County Road 503 and developed it with sewers, with pump stations and paved the parking lot. They built a store, restaurant and theater. They also built 54 miles of four lane highways around Ohio and moved 23 million cubic yards of earth. They also did site preparations for the Gavin Power Plant, Gallipolis, OH, moving 7 million cubic yards of earth In 1977 Clyde was employed by the Goodyear Atomic Corporation as a Construction Engineer and supervised the construction of 1200 centrifuges. In 1989 he was employed as Assistant Scioto County Engineer, part time where in 1991 he was appointed Scioto County Engineer and served until 2008. While being County Engineer, they assigned 55,000 addresses so the 911 System could be implemented.
They started changing property lots from paper to computer, completing two townships. During his time in office the workers and staff helped companies build 193 new bridges, turned 128 miles of 12ft. roads into 18ft. paved roads, also installing 149 box culverts, replacing large pipes and wood bridges. Clyde was instrumental in getting the bypass for Scioto County.
A week after he became the County Engineer, Mayor Gerlach contacted him and asked him to draw up a purposed route that would be accepted by the state and fought for seventeen and a half years to see it built. The route that you see today is almost the very path he suggested. He built four salt sheds around the county for convenience in treating roads. Crews were working 14-16 hours to clear roads and this cut that time to 6-8 hours. He always said he had the best workforce he had ever seen.
He was of the Baptist faith. A funeral service will be 10:00am, Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home, 11623 Gallia Pike, Wheelersburg, OH with Pastor Brad Brandt officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Burial Park. An evening’s visitation will be Friday, November 21, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the funeral home.
