Theola R. Via

VIA, LUDWIG, JOHNSON, MCKINSTRY, WEAVER, KUSTES, DALTON, WHITE

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/24/2006 at 17:20:51

The Clinton Herald
Published: October 23, 2006 02:36 pm

Theola R. Via

Visitation: 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home and Crematory.

SERVICES: Noon Thursday at the funeral home.

SAVANNA, Ill. — Theola R. Via, 90, of Savanna, died Sunday at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna.

The body will be cremated. Private burial will be in Fulton Cemetery at a later date.

She was born Sept. 17, 1916, in Anamosa to Ernest and Augusta Ludwig Johnson.

She attended school in Anamosa.

She married Earl B. McKinstry on Jan. 3, 1932, in Anamosa. He died in 1964. She later married George T. Via Sr., in July of 1969, in Savanna. He died in 1996.

She was a member of the Lions Club and was president of the Lioness club for two years in Florida. She was voted Woman of the Year by the Barber Shoppers, was a 4-H leader in the Savanna area and helped operate the Loyal Order of the Oddfellows and Rebecca Camp for Handicapped Children in Waupaca, Wis., for three years before moving to Florida.

She raised many foster children in the Savanna area.

Survivors include daughters, Corinna (Arden) Weaver of Sterling, Ill., Leah Kustes of Fulton, Ill., and Shirley (Gene) Dalton of Rock Falls, Ill.; stepsons, George T. Via Jr. and Gerald Via, both of Johnson City, Tenn.; one sister, Evelyn White of St. Louis, Mo.; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the family or the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, one son, one daughter, four grandchildren, two brothers and one sister.

Death date: Oct. 22, 2006