Louis Veres, 88, of St. Albans, WV, departed this life at Hubbard Hospice House on November 9th after an extended illness and joined Anitra, his wife of 66 years, at heaven’s gate.
He was preceded in death by his parents George and Julia Veres, his brother George, and sisters Olga, Annie, Mary, and Ruby.
Louis is survived by his son Gary and wife Brandie of St. Albans, grandson Micah and wife Julia and their 4-month-old daughter Ainsley Marie of St. Albans. Sisters-in-law Wanda Veres and Naomi Sebok both of Seth and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. His only surviving sibling is his sister Esther Petersen and husband Pete of Palm Springs, Ca.
Louis was born on August 21, 1930, in Dante, Va. His father immigrated to the US at age 16 from Hungary and was a coal miner. His mom was also of Hungarian descent but was born in the US. They lived in various coal towns in Va and WV, including Prenter, where they lived for several years before finally settling in Seth.
He was a 1950 graduate of Sherman High School where he excelled at playing football and was awarded a full scholarship to play for Marshall University. He decided against going to college and instead, he enlisted in the US Air Force in Dec of 1950 where he spent the next 4 years.
On October 3, 1951, he married the love of his life Anitra Kinder and she moved with him to Anchorage Alaska where he was stationed with the USAF. He was a radio operator and attached to the Military Air Transport Service, 54th Troop Carrier Squadron which was nicknamed the “Eager Beavers”. They flew extensively throughout Alaska and the Aleutian Islands supplying remote outposts with supplies and troops. He really liked to reminisce about his flying days and all the different planes he flew on especially the C 124’s which he loved, and all the adventures they had flying in such a remote and inhospitable climate in the winter.
After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he and Anitra lived in several places before moving back to Seth, WV. He taught Sunday school at Healing Stream Baptist Church in Seth and in the later 50’s and early 60’s he became Scoutmaster of Troop 86 of Seth, where he served for 6 years. Over the years whenever we would run into boys he had when he was Scoutmaster they would tell us what a great mentor he was and what a positive impact he had on their lives.
He worked at several different jobs early on and later he became a salesman for American Greetings Corp where he worked until he became disabled. He traveled extensively throughout southern WV and made many lifelong friends during those years.
In 1968 he moved to St. Albans where he and Anitra lived until their deaths. He was involved with Scout Troop 75 in St. Albans and also helped coach the church league basketball team at Highlawn Baptist Church. He attended Church there until he was no longer able due to his illnesses. He also a member of the Beni Kedem Shrine, Scottish Rite Bodies, the St. Albans Masonic Lodge # 58 AF & AM and a very strong advocate for the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children.
He loved taking care of his home. He was an excellent carpenter and electrician. Loved gardening and kept a small garden in his backyard until he was no longer able. Louis cherished all the beach vacations we had over the years; he really liked being able to fish while there even if he didn’t catch anything. Later on, we would go on guided float trips on the New River and fish for smallmouth bass which he always looked forward to.
I recently had someone tell me that Dad was a man’s man. He set a Godly example of how a man was to live his life and he practiced it daily. He loved his wife and his family and he always put them above himself and most of all he loved his Lord and Savior. Even during his long illness when we were caring for him he never complained. His main concern was that he didn’t want to burden others with his illness. I never met anyone that knew him that didn’t say what a great man he was. He had lots of great lifelong friends that he kept in touch with till the end. He was active on his High School reunion committee and loved going to the reunions and rekindling those friendships. He was just a joy to be around. He is going be missed by everyone who knew him.
We would like to thank everyone who participated in his care over the last 18 months. From those that stayed with him some during the day to give his family a break, and to his Hospice staff who were so kind to him while he was at home and later all those at Hubbard Hospice House who took care of him. We don’t know what we would have done without their help and support.
Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. His service will be at Highlawn Baptist Church in St. Albans at the corner of Vine St. and Jefferson Ave on Wednesday, November 14th with Pastor Jason Robbins officiating. Visitation beginning at 12 Noon and the memorial service at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar with Military and Masonic Graveside Rites.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to Hubbard Hospice House, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387.
Louis Veres
November 10th, 2018 | Posted by in ObituariesYou can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback.
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