A private graveside service for James Pratt Via, 83, will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Woodward. A Memorial service will be 11 AM Saturday at First Baptist Church, Woodward. The Rev. Bret Allan will officiate. Arrangements are by Billings Funeral Home of Woodward and Lacey Funeral Home of Stephenville, Texas.
He was born July 21, 1923, in Wills Point, Texas, to Rolie and Beulah Pratt Via and died Friday, August 4, 2006, at his home in Stephenville, Texas.
He moved with his family to Woodward in 1929, where he attended school, graduating with the class of 1941. He attended junior-college for a year before enlisting in the Army Air Corps, where he served as a glider mechanic until 1945.
He married Virginia Lee Johnson February 19, 1943, in Woodward. He started working at Frost's in Woodward while still in high school and later became sole owner for more than 40 years. He was county clerk for eight years and a member of the Masons, American Legion and First Baptist Church where he taught men's Sunday school class. He was mayor of Woodward for two terms, Pres. of the Chamber of Commerce and a Woodward City Commissioner.
Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Virginia; two children, Linda Altaras of Hico, Texas and Jim Via of Rowlett, Texas; five grandchildren; and six great – grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one sister and a brother.