Meade Willis, Jr stated his banking career at 11; spent time as WWII POW

Meade Willis, a long time executive at Wachovia Bank and Trust, and a WWII veteran who survived 3 years as a prisoner of war, died at his home on Feb 16, 199.  He was 89 years old.

Willis retired from Wachovia in May 1973 as senior vice president in charge of the WS office. His career with the bank spanned more than 42 years.

"Meader was very nice and gentlemanly person" said John G Medlin, Jr, the chairman emeritus of Wachovia.   "he went about his work very seriously but was also a lot of fun."

Friends and family remembered Willis as a dedicated businessman and father who was committed to public service, and quick with a laugh.  They said that Williss' years in a Japanese prison camp didn't scar him, but instead, deepened his faith in God and humanity.

Willis, a US Navy Reserves officer, was among thousands captured by Japanese forces at Corregidor in the Phillippines on May 6, 1942. He remained in a prison cap until Nov. 1943, when he was taken to camps in Japan.   Willis used the time to study and write, but wasn't allowed much food or physical activity.  When released in Sept 1945, he had lost 65 pounds.  News accounts said that 90% of those who were captured with him died, either in bombings or from disease.

Willis ater compiled a small book about his experience. He culled the personal history from 3 years of journal entries, which he scrawled on scraps of toilet paper and kept hidden in a Bible.

"Instead of thinking of this as such a desperate thing, he just looked to improve himself every day" said his daughter, Rosalind Willis, who lives in Asheville.

Willis' son, Rob Willis, of Boone, agreed with Rosalind.  "It was the greatest thing to strengthe him in his life, in terms of discipline, growth,religion.  He was meant to come back and do what he did for Winston-Ssalem."

A native of the city, Willis got his start with Wachovia when he was 11 years old, working as a messenger during the summer.   After earning a bachelor's degree from UNC, he went to work full time for the bank n 1931.  He later received a graduate degree from Rutgers Univ.

His survivors include 3 daughters, 1 son, and 14 grandhildren.