Clyde A. Via

Clyde Allen Via, age 84, passed away peacefully in his sleep May 20, 2017, due to liver and kidney failure.

He was born July 25, 1932, to Hugh and Esther Via, of Charles Town.

Clyde spent his childhood playing with his brothers, his sister and his friends all throughout the town. He took in Westerns at the movie house, worked the farm for his aunt, drove his father’s car too fast on the road to Summit Point and dreamed about going other places.

When the Korean War broke out, Clyde signed up with the Marines in 1952, and shipped out overseas. For the first time, he tried exotic foods and drank beer. Both would become great delights in his life and he would discuss and debate the merits of each with anyone who shared that love.

Clyde returned to West Virginia and his schooling in 1955, attending first Shepherd College and then Virginia Tech.

He travelled back and forth weekly from Virginia to Huntsville, Alabama to work on the U.S. Rocket Program.

During that time, he married, had children, got a job at the Federal Census Bureau and settled down in the suburbs of Prince George’s County, Maryland. There, he lived life the way he wanted to live.

He traveled. He sailed. He ate spicy food. And he discovered craft beers long before anyone else.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Esther; and by his brothers, George, Robert and Charles.

He is survived by his beloved sister, Sarah; his sons and their wives, Allen and Terri, David and Lauri; his daughter, Beth; his grandchildren, Chris, Katie, Steve, Kelli and James; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Liver Foundation (http://www.liverfoundation. org). This group is fighting the battle against NAFLD, a disease that took both Clyde and his brother, Charles, far too soon.

Please sign the online guestbook and view his obituary at www.mtstrider.com.