Adon Taylor Wills was born  in 1912  to Harry B. and Iva J. Wills. The family resided at 127 East Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Adon was their only child. His father was a Prudential Insurance Agent.

Adon attended the West Chester High School, then located on the northeast corner of Church and Washington Streets. In the 11^th grade he was in the Agricultural Club, and had perfect attendance. Adon was Class Lieutenant 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades; Science Club 10^th, 12^th , Assistant Business Manager for the Garnet and White, 11^th and 12^th,  History Club; 11^th and 12^th, and the Road to Yesterday Club in 12th grade. The Road to Yesterday was a play presented by the Drama Club.

Drama Club Pictures, Click Each to Enlarge

 

Adon graduated high school in 1930, then attended the Eckels College of Embalming in Philadelphia, graduating in 1933.

Adon became a State Licensed Funeral Director and obtained employment in Coatesville at a funeral home.  He became very active in community service.  Adon was a past president of the West Chester Home Cluster Group, the oldest social and literary society in West Chester, which was active from 1877 through 1959.

 A member of the Masonic Lodge and the tall Cedars; the Y’s Club (past of the YMCA) in Coatesville; Past President of the Sons of America of Downingtown and the Rod and Gun Club of Thorndale.

Adon entered service in the Army and served in Fort Lewis, Washington.  He was stricken with an illness and was sent to the Letterman Hospital in San Francisco, California for removal of a brain tumor.

Private First Class Adon Taylor Died Non Battle on September 13, 1942 at the Letterman Hospital.

A memorial service for Adon was held at the Methodist Church, at High and Barnard Streets, in West Chester as part of the Sunday evening service on September 21^st.  He was the first member of the church to perish in the war.  The Reverend Levi Hoffman Zerr, pastor, delivered the eulogy, extolling Adon for his strength of character. Fifty members of the Lodge number 322 augmented the large congregation in attendance.  A service flag was presented with one gold star for Adon.  Taps was sounded from the churches balcony.

A viewing was held at the home of his parents on East Gay Street  on Monday evening. Adon was buried at Greenmount Cemetery on Westtown Road on Tuesday.