Evalyn Anne Willis 1932 – 2026

Evalyn Anne (Culp) Willis

1932 – 2026

Evalyn Anne (Culp) Willis passed away peacefully on Feb. 9, 2026, in Granbury, Texas. She was 93 years old. Evalyn was born July 30, 1932, in Gatesville, Texas, to Mary Ethyl (Hoote) Culp and Arthur Culp.

Visitation: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Laurel Land Funeral Home of Fort Worth. Graveside services: 11 a.m. following visitation at Laurel Land Memorial Park of Fort Worth, 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76134.

Evalyn became a Christian at a Methodist Youth Camp at the age of 14. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Granbury. Evalyn graduated from Poly High School in Fort Worth with membership in the National Honor Society. She attended several colleges. Evalyn married Don Jopling in 1950. They had three sons, Mark Wesley Jopling, Stephen Don Jopling and Frederick Paul Jopling. Evalyn later married James Keplinger Willis in 1965, who had three children, David Wayne Willis, Margaret Ann Willis and Steven Charles Willis.

Her first job was at the First National Bank, Ft. Worth. She retired from IBM in 1987 after a 20-year career. She was an IBM procurement contracts administrator. When both she and her husband James retired, they had a second career at Market on the Square in Granbury, Texas, where they owned an antique and gift shop on the Granbury Square. They retired from this business in the fall of 2011.

Prior to COVID, she enjoyed her church friends, bridge clubs and bunco club. She enjoyed bowling and working crossword puzzles. Her greatest joy was planning holidays for her family. She wanted them to stay close to one another. She was preceded in death by her husband James of 56 years, son Frederick Paul Jopling, parents, and five siblings: Millicent Pruitt, Clinton Culp, Clayton Culp, Joe Culp and Dorothy Houston, her granddaughter Elvia Gomez.

Those left behind to cherish her memory include Mark Jopling, son, and wife Cheryl and their children Misty, Chad and Shane; Steve Jopling, son; her stepson David Willis and his wife Deena and their children Sean, Matthew, Phillip, Amy; stepdaughter Margaret Willis and her daughter Theresa; and stepson Charles Willis. One cousin, Jimmy Jack Hoote and wife in Newport Beach, California. Also included are12 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.