Mr. Fremont Archibald “Ga Ga” Vess, Sr., age 92, of Covington, went to be with his Lord, Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Woodlands, Clifton Forge. He was the loving husband of Violet V. Vess.
Mr. Vess was born March 25, 1921 in Covington, the son of the late Emmett Vess and Jessie Nicely Vess. He graduated from Covington High School in 1938 and was a member of the National Honorary Beta Club. Mr. Vess served his country during World War II as a Fire Controlman Second Class in the United States Navy and received the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal with one star, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one star and the Victory Medal. Upon returning to Covington, he joined the American Legion Post 4 in 1947 where he became the sixth Post 4 member to receive a fifty year membership certificate and was a lifetime member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Vess was employed by Westvaco working in the Beatter Room at the time he retired with forty-six years of service to the company. He served as a board member of the WECCU for forty-one years and was named the Roanoke Valley Chapter of Credit Unions “Volunteer of the Year” – WECCU in 2001.
A member of McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church since childhood, he served his church in a number of capacities including serving as an elder and volunteering with COPE / Food Bank.
In addition to his wife of 72 years, Violet V. Vess, Mr. Vess is survived by three sons, Robert Wayne Vess, Fremont “Monty” A. Vess, Jr. and wife, Betty Jo and Carol Bruce Vess and wife, Kathy; daughter-in-law, Gwen Vess Whitmore; grandchildren, Rob, Ricky, Michelle, Andrea, Jennifer, Benjie, Tomalei and Cortney; and great grandchildren, Danielle, Candace, Dalton, Dylan, Gavin, Zachary, Vivian, Tyler, and Emma.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Vess was preceded in death by an infant son, Fremont Adrian Vess; a son, Thomas Wade Vess; a daughter – in-law, Joyce “Dee” Vess; a brother, Roy L. Vess; and a sister, Elsie Vess Hanger.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, March 13, 2014, at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church with Rev. Michael C. Fleenor officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Graveside rites will be conducted by Curtis A. Smith Post 1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Pallbearers will be Rob Vess, Benjie Vess, Brian Lester, Zachary Vernon, Willard Meeks and Charles Walker.
The family will receive friends on Thursday afternoon from 12:30 P.M. until service time at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to McAllister Memorial Presbyterian, 900 N. Alleghany Avenue, Covington, VA 24426.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.