Anna Lou Edwards Via, of Benton, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, March 26 with family by her side. She was born December 27, 1937, in Marshall County, the daughter of Solon Franklin and Emily Mahala Pace Edwards.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Ruth Myers; a brother, Pat Stewart Edwards; her mother- and father-in-law, Willie and Mae Via; seven brothers-in-law; and three sisters-in law.
Ann, as she preferred to be called, married the love of her life, Guy Russell Via, on September 27, 1969. Together they built a life full of adventure and a large family. They loved to travel and camp around the United States with life-time friends and spend weekends boating and camping on Kentucky Lake.
She was a member of Walnut Grove church of Christ. She was a former employee of the Florsheim Shoe Factory in Paducah, and retired as a cook and camp manager for Camp-Kum-Ba-Ya and co-site manager with her husband from Birmingham Point Campground, where they worked many years.
One of Ann’s most precious titles though, was that of being ‘Nanny’ to family and so many others. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were Nanny’s greatest joys in life and her face lit up when they were around.
She loved playing cards, collecting anything with a ‘red bird’ on it, watching her humming birds, baking and cooking for family and friends, camping, celebrating holidays with her family, and listening to country music, especially Conway Twitty.
Ann is survived by her husband of 53 years, Guy Via; her daughter, Rhonda (Dale Bogard) Henson; four grandchildren, Areia (Jamie) Hathcock, Adeena (Sam) Parks, Aaron (Jayme) Henson, and Aundrea (Tyler) Fralicx; great-grandchildren, Anna and Aubrey Parks, Kyler and Ashtyn Hathcock, Jordin and Westin Henson, and Kilah and Kutter Fralicx; sisters Nell Langston and Faye King; brother Hugh Edwards; three sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; many special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 30 at Collier Funeral Home in Benton with Bro. Derrick Coble officiating. Burial will follow at Edwards Cemetery. The family will receive visitors Wednesday, March 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Aaron Henson, Tyler Fralicx, Johnny King, Mike Edwards, Ken Langston, and Jeremy Ford.