Billy Via

Billy Lee Via passed away in Houston, Texas, on December 23, 2017 at the age of 86. He is survived by his children and their families: Vicki (spouse-Tani, son-Willie), Ricky (spouse-Cheryl, sons-Nick and Daniel) and Dixie (daughters-Allie and Penny, granddaughter, Bree). Billy was raised in Hampton, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Arkansas A&M, where he was a member of the Boll Weevil basketball and baseball teams. He enlisted in the Air Force where he worked as an Intelligence Officer in Japan following the Korean War. While in Japan, he played baseball for the FEAF Base Tornadoes, and made life-long friends and memories. In Japan, he met Keiko, who would become his wife and the mother to his children. Billy earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas, where he proudly supported the Arkansas Razorbacks. After earning his degrees, Billy was employed as a teacher and high school basketball coach in Arkansas. He taught in various positions in public school as well as educating inmates in federal correctional institutions in Texas. After working for many years as an educator, Billy opened the Southwestern Golf Club Repair shop on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, Texas, where he built, refinished and repaired golf clubs for amateur and professional golfers all over the state of Texas. Billy loved to watch and talk about sports. He knew the statistics of all professional and college teams and their members, especially Arkansas and Texas teams. He took his children and their friends to Dallas Cowboy games, when General Admission was $1.00 per ticket. Billy was a friendly, generous and honest person who "never met a stranger.' He will be missed.