Jeffrey Martin “Willy” Willhite, 66, of Springfield passed away peacefully in his sleep Feb. 10, 2026.
He was born Oct. 24, 1959. He was lovingly adopted by Marty and Virginia Willhite, who preceded him in death, along with his beloved Westies, Abbey Doo and Bailey.
Jeff grew up with a close knit group of friends in Laketown and those friendships continued throughout his life. He married Jennifer Hendricks in 1985; though they later divorced, they shared an enduring bond and close friendship.
Jeff embraced the Catholic faith in 1987 and was a devoted member of Blessed Sacrament Church and Christ the King Parish. His faith guided a life of resilience and service.
Jeff was a 1977 graduate of Southeast High School. After graduation he worked as a land surveyor for Bob Renz. In 1982, Jeff decided to further his education and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, with two high school buddies to attend DeVry University Arizona. After earning a degree in computer technology, Jeff returned to Springfield to begin a successful career with Xerox Corporation. Widely respected for his work ethic and character, he received numerous honors, including Presidents Club and Par Club recognition. Jeff played on and coached the company softball team.
Jeff’s career was cut short by a disabling accident in June 1993. Miraculously, through tireless exercise and therapy, he led a happy, purposeful and spiritual life. Volunteering made Jeff’s life whole, whether it was helping at St. Martin de Porres, delivering Meals on Wheels or working every Christmas with Friend in Deed.
Jeff excelled in every sport he participated in whether it was golf, tennis, running, biking, skiing, softball or ping pong. He loved it all. He was constantly sharpening his sports skills before and after the accident. He was an avid runner, participating in numerous 5K and 10K runs. He participated in the Iron Man Triathlon at Lake Springfield in 1985. He ran Abe’s Amble 5K with his physical therapist, Jeff Koester, a year after his accident. A few years later he ran Abe’s Amble again and won first place in his age group.
Jeff was quite the sports aficionado. He was a die-hard Cardinals fan, meeting Jack Buck and hanging out with him while he announced a Cardinals game. He was also a huge Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls fan. He loved collecting sports memorabilia. Jeff was always up for an adventure. He loved his Honda 250 dirt bike and 650 Nighthawk.
A Catholic funeral mass will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to St. Martin de Porres or Contact Ministries of Springfield.
Jeff will be remembered for his perseverance, generosity, deep faith and unwavering love for his friends and family.
