FRED DANIEL VIA

FREDRICK DANIEL (FRED) VIA, resident of the Arlington Community, retired Ford Motor Company Employee, U.S. Veteran and husband of Ruby Boggs Via died Tuesday evening, November 17, 2009 at his residence. He was 89 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Funeral Services with Military Honors for Mr. Via were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, November 21st at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Chaplain Richard Kilpatrick of the Caris Hospice Organization in Somerville, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. David Reeves, Pastor of the Midway Baptist Church at Whiteville. Special remarks were given by a daughter of  Mr. Via, Gloria Hines and by Joyce Glore of Caris Hospice. Special music was provided by daughter, Peggy Strickland. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mr. Via was born September 24, 1920 in Alamo, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joshua Daniel Via and Lottie Jane Cates Via and was educated in the Crockett County, Tennessee Public School System.

He served in the United States Army during the World War II Period from 1942 to 1946.

He was employed as an Automobile Body Specialist for the Ford Motor Company before his retirement and had been a resident of the Arlington Community area for the past forty-six years.

He attended the Chambers Chapel United Methodist Church and married the former Ruby Lee Boggs on September 24, 1977, who survives.

Mr. Via had a love for farming throughout his life. He enjoyed raising cattle and served as a caretaker for other farms as long as health permitted. Barbecuing for family and friends was a favorite pastime.

In addition to his wife of thirty-two years, Mr. Via is survived by four daughters: Gloria Jean Hines of Phoenix, AZ; Peggy B. Strickland, Photographer, of Somerville; Joyce Sneed of Murphy, NC and Jane Boggs Smith of Waverly, TN; his sister, Nancy Carol Kail of Alamo, TN; his brother, Billy Joe Via of Memphis and his granddaughter, Amanda Lynn Hines (Mandy) Fulton of Lakeland, FL.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Willie Richardson, Todd Fulton, Richard Hines, Eddie Joe Carnathan, Mike Cole and Buddy Boyd.

Billy Joe Via, Marvin Byrd, Wallace Young, Bill Scott, Jeff Anthony and Bill Sneed served as honorary casket bearers.

Those who are remembered in a special way are the late "Red" Carnathan and the late Leon Cole.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942; Phone: 1-800-805-5856 or to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 6655 Quince Road # 114, Memphis, TN 38119-8031; Phone: (901) 755-4900.