Willis J. Allison, 88, of Grove City passed away at 1 a.m. Monday after a brief illness at home.

He was born in Cherry Township, Butler County, on Aug. 13, 1925, to Howard F. Allison and Jessie May Christy Allison.

He married Genevieve T. Reeder on June 3, 1948, and she passed away on May 12, 1998.

He owned and operated the Allison Construction Co. in Grove City, retiring in 1991.

He was a Protestant.

He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Philippines.

He was a member of the VFW Post 519, Grove City, and the former Grove City Elks Lodge.

He is survived by his six children, Deborah Janecek and her husband, John, of Mountain Top, Melody Allison of Grove City, Jeffrey Allison of Chicago, Kimberly Campbell and her husband, Mike, of Gibsonia, Mark Allison of Las Vegas and Robin Buzzelli of Grove City; his nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by four sisters, twin sister, Willa Mae Allison of New Wilmington, Claridel Abbott of Towanda, Verna Zedreck of West Sunbury and Pearl Stark of Bolivar, N.Y., and his two brothers, Charles Allison and his wife, Martha, of Ellwood City and Bob Allison of Dunedin, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sister, Virginia Hogg, and his brothers, Guy and Wayne Allison.

ALLISON — Friends of Willis J. Allison, who died Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, will be welcomed at the Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The funeral service will be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Nadia Mullin, Mr. Allison's granddaughter, officiating. Burial will be at Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City.Memorial contributions in Mr. Allison's name may be made to the American Cancer Society.