Belva Wills

Belva M. Wills, 96,of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau, where she had been a resident for a number of years.

She was born Dec. 11, 1921, in Laflin, Missouri, daughter of Purvis and Ida Engleman Wills.

Belva was a graduate of College High School in Cape Girardeau. She worked 40 years for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Cape Girardeau, retiring Oct. 3, 1981. She was a telephone operator, assigned phone numbers and had numerous other positions within the company.

She was a member of Telephone Pioneers of America and the Cape Girardeau County Republican Committee. She was active in the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society and very much enjoyed family genealogy. At one time, she was awarded World Who's Who of American Women. Belva was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, where she was a greeter for worship services.

Loving survivors include a nephew, Larry (Sharon) Wills of Parker, Colorado; and three nieces, Judi (William H.) Faulkner of Kingston, Georgia, Vickie Kain of Cobden, Illinois, and Janet (John E.) Watkins of Lake St. Louis, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Melvin and Tillman Wills.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. today at the funeral home, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

The family suggests that contributions be made to Southeast Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.