John Willis Jr.

Published May 7, 2026 - 1:39 p.m.

John Lloyd Willis, Jr., 59, of Holmes County, died March 26, 2026, at Altman Hospital in Canton from small-cell cancer.

John was born in Hardin County on April 18, 1966. He was baptized at Claiborne United Methodist Church when he was little and attended Bible school and Cub Scouts there. Because John had undiagnosed Dyslexia, he suffered with reading in school.

John moved to Holmes County in 1990. His second, third, fourth, and fifth great-grandparents also lived in Holmes County. John attended Holmesville Methodist Church in Holmesville, Ohio.

He had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. He could fix anything and loved to tinker in his spare time.

John is survived by his mother, Bonnie Bell; sister Miranda Swartz; half-brother Robert Willis; nieces, Caitlyn Laney, and Heather Swartz; and two great-nieces, Sylvia and Laney Potter. Aunts, Jean Redmon, Linda Temple, Caroline Lucas, and Mary Snider. Uncle Joe Bell and many cousins.

He was predeceased by his father, John Lloyd Willis, in 2015.

A private graveside gathering will be held later this summer for John at Claiborne Cemetery, Union County, Ohio.

Contributions can be made in John’s name to the International Dyslexia Association of Northern Ohio, PO Box 241294, Cleveland, OH 44124.

Thank you to Snyder Funeral Home in Loudonville, Ohio, for making all the arrangements and taking good care of our John. Please visit Snyderfuneralhomes.com to leave a message of condolence to the family.

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