Adriana Braaksma Willis, a long time resident of South Oceanside, passed away June 24, 2020. She was 97 years old. She was born June 16, 1923, in Friesland, Wisconsin.
After graduating high school, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps as one of the first Women Marines.
She served on the east coast during WWII and relocated to Southern California after her tour of duty 1943-1945.
She attended the University of Southern California and earned her B.S. degree in education.
She met her husband, John Willis (passed away in July 2006), a career U.S. Marine, in Long Beach and married in 1948.
She was a career teacher and taught many years in San Diego, CA, Greeley, CO, Billings, MT, Casper, WY, and the Oceanside School District.
Adriana is survived by her son, John R. Willis, daughter, Stephanie M. Willis and son-in-law Ted Linhof, son, Jeff Willis, and six grandsons, Tanner, Andrew, Alex, Austin, Connor and Carson.
Her ashes will be buried with her husband, John, at Rosecrans National Veterans Cemetery on August 21, 2020.
1 comment
Sincere condolences from the members of the Women Marines Association. “If the Army and the Navy ever looked on Heaven’s Scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.” (3rd stanza of the Marines Hymn). Take comfort in knowing your beloved Marine has left this life to take up her rightful place in Heaven’s detachment.
The Women Marines Association is dedicated to preserving the history of our veterans. We continue to build a diverse collection of uniforms, photos, papers and other artifacts donated by our members and their families. If you have items you would like to know more about or would like to have your loved one memorialized by donating items to the collection, our Historian, Nancy Wilt, would be happy to speak with you. She can be reached at: Nancy Wilt, WMA Historian, Curator of the Women of the Corps Collection, PO Box 633, Hunt, TX 78024, Phone: 830-238-3893, or [email protected].
Eileen Skahill
National Chaplain
[email protected]
Comments are closed.