Bertha Jewel Willis Obituary (1935 - 2024)

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Bertha Jewel Willis who left us February 1, 2024. She was born Bertha Jewel Marlowe on August 29, 1935 in El Centro the third child of Chet and Annie Jewel Marlowe. She was a resident of Holtville for most of her life. Bertha graduated as Valedictorian from Holtville High School in 1952 and married Les Rubin that same year. They made their home together in Holtville and raised four children Jerry, Leslie Carol, Carl Ray, and Elizabeth. Attending night courses at IVC and San Diego State in Calexico Bertha earned her bachelor degree in 1973 and took a job teaching at Rockwood Elementary school in Calexico. Following the passing of her husband Leslie Rubin in 1983 Bertha moved to El Centro and continued teaching at Rockwood moving from teaching kindergarten to special education. In 1984 she married Richard Gracey who was also a teacher. They enjoyed traveling in the summers to visit family and new places until their retirement in 1998 and Rick's unexpected death in 1999. In the spring of 2000 Bertha reconnected with an old family friend at a Holtville class reunion and later that year married Arthur Willis. Being retired they traveled extensively both domestically and internationally visiting family, friends and making new friends along the way. Bertha is preceded in death by her parents, Chet and Annie Jewel Marlowe, her two older brothers, Monte and James Marlowe, husbands Les Rubin, Richard Gracey, and Arthur Willis, and son Carl Ray Rubin. Bertha is survived by 3 of her children Jerry Rubin, Leslie Carol Ortego and Elizabeth Lopez; 8 grandchildren children Travis Ortego, Glenn Tyler Ortego, Gerad Lopez, Devin Lopez, Rebecca Lopez-Camp, Michelle Douet, Jeni Verone and 18 great-grandchildren.