Gwendolyn "Gwen" Ortego Wills

Gwendolyn Rita Ortego "Gwen" Wills, 83 of Asheboro died Friday, March 15, 2019 at Laurels Of Chatham, Pittsboro.

Gwen was born August 6, 1935 in Opelousas, LA, the daughter of Clarence Paul and the Emily Veillion Ortego.

Marrying Lloyd M. Wills on July 25, 1953 at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA, our mother was a loving, determined, strong, brave and kind woman who left a small southern Louisiana town to be with our Dad who was a US Marine. An example of her strength and courage was when she traveled alone, pregnant with 2 toddlers by plane and ship to Hawaii, where she joined our Dad who was stationed there. She, as other military wives, served faithfully alongside our Dad for 20 years, moving about every 2 years with her children and well-loved dog. She cared for her family while Dad was called to the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam. Once retired from the military, Asheboro became home.

She found great joy and peace in creating beautiful flower gardens, reading and music. One of her greatest joys was the unexpected "Lagniappe" she gave her family, friends and the unexpecting neighbor - a small token or a flower from her garden to brighten their day.

Mother never stopped loving the town she was born in, the family and friends that live and are buried there and her Cajun heritage that she carried with her always. She had a special place in her heart for her sister and our aunt, Sylvia.

During her life, she volunteered in various ways, including her church, St Joseph Catholic Church, and helping to create the first support group in Asheboro for Children with Learning Disabilities in the 1970's. We will miss her Gumbo, being called darling and the God Bless at the end of each phone conversation.

Gwen was preceded in death by her parents: Clarence and Emily Ortego, brothers: Farrell and Conrad Ortego; her loving husband: Lloyd Marshall Wills.

She is survived by her five children: Emily Dayton of Clarkton, WA, Jon Wills and Peter Wills both of Asheboro, NC, Maria (Hans) Anderson of Middleton, WI and Laurie Wills of Burlington, NC; four grandchildren: Lane Dayton, JoAnna Kriebel, Jakob Anderson and Kathryn Anderson; one great-grandchild: Caleb Kriebel; sister: Sylvia (C. J.) Bonnecarrere of Lafayette, LA

Everyone is invited to join the Wills Family for a graveside memorial service on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Randolph Memorial Park, 4538 US Hwy 220 Bus. North, Asheboro with Father Philip Kollithanath officiating.  The family will receive friends following the memorial service.

Memorials may be made to: Friends of Randolph County Animals at: ttps://www.paypal.me/FriendsofRCanimals or The National Alliance of the Mentally Ill at:www.NAMI.org