Willard Wayne Frost, 93, of Greenville, Illinois, died peacefully on January 16, 2026, at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by his family.
Willard was born in Scottsville, Kentucky, on December 11, 1932, to Hubert Warren & Opal Marie (Wygal) Frost. He grew up in Scottsville, KY, where he loved spending time on his grandparents’ farm. He graduated from Allen County High School, Class of 1950. Willard began preaching as a teenage boy and sang in a traveling mixed quartet. On May 16, 1952, Willard married Hazel Pauline Loafman. He attended Trevecca Nazarene College (Nashville, TN), graduated from Greenville College – Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Class of 1955 (Greenville, IL), graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary – Master of Divinity, Class of 1960 (Wilmore, KY), and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Emmanual Bible Institute in 1976 (Nashville, TN).
Dr. Frost served his Lord and Savior as a minister of the Free Methodist Church beginning in 1951. During his lifelong calling to the ministry, he pastored Free Methodist congregations of Cassidy & Mt. Zion in Warren County, KY; Smyrna, TN; Bingham and Flat Rock, IL; Irving, KY; Nashville, TN; Bowling Green, KY; and the Illinois communities of Taylorville, Shelbyville, Normal, Springfield, Vandalia, and Salem. Upon retirement in 1997, Willard and Hazel moved to Greenville, IL, where they attended the Greenville Free Methodist Church, and Willard was Assistant to the Superintendent of the Gateway Conference of the Free Methodist Church. He was a preaching pastor for several rural churches, most notably Woodside Community Church. Throughout his career, Willard served on numerous boards but was most honored to serve many years on the boards of Oakdale Christian Academy (Jackson, KY) and Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP, Springfield, IL). Willard served as Official Photographer for the Free Methodist Church General Conference. Willard loved spending time on his computer and was an avid photographer who enjoyed taking pictures of nature.
Willard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Clyde Eugene Frost. He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Hazel Pauline (Loafman) Frost, their three children and their spouses: David Frost (Mary Jane) of Charleston, IL, Phillip Frost (Violet) of Baton Rouge, LA, and Martha (Marty) Beans (Richard) of Greenville, IL, and eight grandchildren: Sarah Forbes (David) of Marshall, IL, Emily (Emma) Radosevich (Joseph) of Manchester, IL, Brooke Frost of Baton Rouge, LA, Adam Frost of Houston, TX, Owen Beans (Ally) of Dallas, TX, Oliver Beans (Emily) of Youngstown, OH, Hollyn Beans (Alex Freeman) of New York City, NY, and Noelle Beans of New York City, NY. He also leaves 10 great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Micah, Jakob, Sophie, Oskar, Ivy Jo, and Marilla Radosevich, and Simon, Vivian, and Martin Beans, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will greet friends on Saturday, January 24, from 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m., for a visitation at Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home, 203 W. Oak St., Greenville, IL. A family service and interment in Mt. Auburn Cemetery will follow. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Gateway Conference.
Donnell - Wiegand Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.donnellwiegand.com
