William J. "Bill" Veness Jr., age 86, formerly of Marion, peacefully went home to be with Jesus on Friday evening, July 30, 2010, at the Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service in Akron, Ohio, following a brief illness.
On March 16, 1924, Bill was born in Grand Prairie Township of Marion County, the son of the late William J. Sr. and Kathryn (Roberts) Veness. He graduated from Harding High School in the Class of 1942.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Bill enlisted to serve this country, joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served for over three years as a pharmacist’s mate helping care for wounded and ill soldiers in the South Pacific.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in March of 1946, Bill returned home to marry the woman he was engaged to before the war, Virginia Mae “Ginny” Epley. They were married on June 16, 1946, at the Calvery Evangelical Church. They had a son, Jeffrey Veness, and when he was a toddler she contracted polio, which took away her ability to walk. Despite the many physical obstacles they faced over the years, Bill loved and cared for her unconditionally and creatively figured out ways for her to be able to be involved in anything she wished. He lost his best friend and lifelong companion when she preceded him in death on April 9, 2009.
Bill worked as a communications engineer for GTE in Marion until his retirement in 1982. He also was an active member with the Town and Country Kiwanis Club having served as president of the organization three different times.
A man of deep faith, Bill was an active member of the Calvary EUB Church and later the Cornerstone Alliance Church, where he served the church as an Elder.
Bill will be dearly missed by his son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Jennifer Veness, of Fairlawn, Ohio; three granddaughters: Chelsea (Rick) Teeple of Uniontown, Ohio, Lindy (Matt) Carson of Hilliard, Ohio, and Mikayla Veness of Fairlawn, Ohio; four great-grandsons: Nicholas, Nathan, Tanner and Hunter; a brother, Robert (Joyce) Veness of Jacksonville, Illinois; and many other family members and friends.
Including his wife and parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Dobson.
The Veness family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. They will again greet friends from 2 – 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Cornerstone Alliance Church, 2010 Marion Marysville Rd., Marion, where services celebrating his life will follow immediately at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Tim Miller officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Marion County United Veterans Council will follow in Marion Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cornerstone Alliance Church, c/o Parking Lot Fund, or The Chapel, c/o Fresh Passion Mozambique Clean Water Fund. These may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
His family would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Brookdale Assisted Living of Bath, Ohio and Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service in Akron, Ohio, for the excellent care and support they have given to Bill.
To express your condolences online to Bill's family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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