WILLIS GILFORD VIA, 69, OF SO. CHARLESTON DIED TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1996 AT HOME AFTER LONG ILLNESS.
HE WAS A RETIRED TRUCK DRIVER FROM SMITH TRANSFER CO. AT BELLE, A MEMBER OF THE TEAMSTER UNION #175, A KOREAN WAR ARMY VETERAN DURING WHICH HE WAS A PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT, A MEMBER OF THE CHOSEN FEW ARMY CHAPTER AND THE 32ND INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION, A MEMBER OF THE ALUM CREEK NAZARENE CHURCH WHERE HE SERVED AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER AND BOARD MEMBER, HE WAS KANAWHA COUNTY FARMER OF THE YEAR IN 1984 AND A LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF KANAWHA COUNTY.
HE IS SURVIVED BY: HIS WIFE: BETTY; 2 SONS: JOSEPH VIA OF FREEPORT, TX; TOM STEVENS OF RIVERSIDE, CA; 3 DAUGHTERS: KATHI THAXTON OF SO. CHARLESTON, WV; LUANNA HORN OF SO. CHARLESTON, WV; ROSE THEVENIN OF SO. CHARLESTON, WV;
MOTHER: ORA VIA OF CHARLESTON, WV; 3 BROTHERS: LAWRENCE VIA OF CHARLESTON, WV; ERNEST VIA OF MIDDLETOWN, CA; TOM VIA OF ALUM CREEK, iJV; 3 SISTERS: ADELINE ELMORE OF CHARLESTON, WV; JESSE RAYNES OF NITRO, WV; CLARA SIGMON OF ALAMEDA, CA; 9 GRANDCHILDREN.
SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT CURRY FUNERAL HOME, ALUM CREEK, ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1996 AT 11 AM WITH PASTOR GENE PAULEY AND PASTOR MAYFORD WITT OFFICIATING. BURIAL WITH MILITARY GRAVESIDE RITES GIVEN BY THE ALUM CREEK, VFW POST x`4768 WILL BE HELD IN VIA FAMILY CEMETERY, SO. CHARLESTON. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE FUNERAL HOME ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1996 FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 PM. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY SUGGEST DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE ALUM CREEK LIONS CLUB SIGHT FOUNDATION, INC., PO BOX 224, ALUM CREEK, WV 25003.