Mitchell J. "Mitch" Willis, 63, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Friday, September 5, 2014 at his residence. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Dublin, GA with Rev. Ed Ellington, Mr. Keith Brooks, Mr. Bobby Brooks, and Rev. Freddie Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Dublin Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home Chapel from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Mr. Willis was born on October 27, 1950 in Miami, FL, the son of George Otto Willis and Cecilia McDermott Willis. He was a graduate of Hialeah High School, Class of 1968, and West Virginia University. A chemical engineer, Mr. Willis was the former Director of R & D for Engelhard in Gordon, GA, and Manufacturing Technology Manager for BASF in Attapulgus, GA. He was also a past Chairman of the Engineering Research Center of the National Science Foundation for the University of Florida. Mr. Willis's family greatly appreciates the kind care of Hospice of Southwest Georgia, especially Tammy Fletcher, Kim Bowles and Sonya Sheffield. Memorial Donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 117 Donalson Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817 or to Dudley United Methodist Church, 1402 Second Street, Dudley, GA 31022. Survivors include his wife, Celeste Larsen Willis of Dudley, GA; his children, Angie Willis Murrell and her husband Matt of Augusta, GA, Robin E. Willis of Nashville, TN, and his stepson Peter Larsen of Dudley, GA; his grandchildren, Cade Willis and Hayden Willis; his cousins, Virginia Hardman of Cambridge, MA and Diane McDermott and her husband Jim of Cambridge, MA; and his sister-in-law, Donna Lawson of Pooler, GA. Pallbearers will be David Camerota, Bennett Craft, Terry Maxwell, Brad Morris, Chad Seevers, Alan Sims, and Bennie Ware. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ronnie Brooks, Randy Brown, Johnny Cannon, Ken Folmar, Charles Harrell, Monika Layfield, George Nyamekye, Greg Orr, Michael Sigman, Danny Williams and Tim Young.