Odessa Turner Via
Odessa Turner Via, 101, of Fieldale, passed away peacefully at her home on October 10, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Franklin County on November 26, 1919 to George James Turner and Hattie Ann Turner. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Lauren Solomon “Pee Wee” Via, a World War II veteran. She was also preceded in death by a special granddaughter, Candice Lynne Wall and her 9 siblings; Cora Bell Stone Price, Charlie Thomas Turner, Elva Lee Prillaman, Lester G. Turner, Russell Turner, Austin Taylor Turner, Sylvester Turner, Lelia May Turner and Archie Royal Turner.
Surviving are her daughters: Iris Gillispie (Ed) of Collinsville and Teresa Wall (Rick) of Stanleytown; grandchildren: Kevin Gillispie (Andrea) of California and Adrienne Wall of Bassett; and a great-grandson, Max.
Odessa loved attending church and was a member of the Old Center Primitive Baptist Church in Sanville. Special thanks to Druie and Ann Martin for taking her to church when she could no longer drive herself. She was very active in the community as a 4-H leader and a member of the Rangeley Homemakers Club. In 2020, she was honored by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 30 years of service in the Patrick Henry DAR chapter. She joined the Mildred Lee Chapter of the UDC in 1991 and would have celebrated 30 years of service in December.
Odessa was proud to be the first of her siblings to graduate from high school. She received a diploma in September 1940 from the Elite Beauty Salon in Bassett and took a correspondence course in Scientific Massage and Hydro-Therapy through the College of Swedish Massage in 1944. She was a charter member of the Perry Business School in Martinsville where she graduated with her sister, Lelia, in 1945. She had many jobs over her lifetime doing clerical and bookkeeping work locally and in Washington, DC during World War II. She worked for the city of Martinsville and at Hooker Furniture. She retired from Southwestern Virginia Gas Company as a bookkeeper.
She loved to travel and visited most of the states in the continental United States with the exception of a very few states. She even traveled to Mexico and Canada. Summers were the family favorite when they were spent at Myrtle Beach with extended family members. In later years, trips to the beach were made in November to celebrate her birthday. For her 100th birthday, she took her first helicopter ride at Myrtle Beach where she sat up front with a cute pilot and grinned the whole time. Last year, the trip was to Virginia Beach where she enjoyed perfect weather from the deck of the oceanfront house in sight of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel watching the waves and the dolphins. This year, she did not want to wait until November. The trip to Myrtle Beach was made after Labor Day with her family where she met with special cousins just like old times.
Special thanks go to Brook Nelson, PA-C who took such good care of Odessa and to Jan Burch who was a special friend and helper. Many thanks go to the team at the Amedisys Hospice.
A floating visitation without the family will be held Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at Bassett Funeral Service. The family will receive friends at 12:30 pm prior to the funeral service at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 in the Bassett Funeral Service Chapel with Elder Zack Byrd officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Burial Park in Martinsville, VA.
Due to the governor’s requirements for Covid-19, a face covering is recommended and social distancing is to be observed when visiting at the funeral home.
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