William T. Barva

William T. Barva, 79, passed from this life on May 21, 2012. Bill was born to Augusta Cline Barva and William F. Barva in Waltonville, Illinois, on December 17, 1932, and grew up in Mount Vernon. Joining the U.S. Navy at age 17, he served from 1949 to 1953, after which he took a chance and moved to Las Cruces on a Navy buddy's invitation, where he fell in love with Hatch chili, the Spanish language, Mexican music, and a young Mexican American woman named Inocenta Valadez. He worked for Douglas Aircraft Company at the White Sands Proving Ground from 1954 to 1960 and then for the Department of the Army (U.S. Civil Service) at White Sands Missile Range as a calibration and electronic technician until 1988, playing a role in the testing of the Patriot missile. In the meantime, he continued his naval service through the U.S Naval Reserve up to 1978, crossing the equator at least once on ship voyages. After Inocenta's death in 1985, he met and married Susan Olguin and moved to Alamogordo, where he enjoyed a retired life of leisure. Bill was preceded in death by Susan and his sisters Pauline Sefried, Iris (Hayes) May, and Donna Abert. He is survived by his sister Mary Josephine Ruble, 88, and his nephew who was like a brother, Fred Barva; his children: Isabel O'Brien, Yvette Hassell, Bill Barva Jr., Annie Barva, and Andrew Barva; his stepdaughters: Eva Montoya, Rose Rice, and Jayne Cardona; his grandchildren: Tim and Alex O'Brien, James Cross, Coy and Mariah Hassell, Dante Foster, Maria and Gabriel Barva, Susan and Sam Romo, Isaiah Montoya, David and Tiffany Rice; and his numerous nephews and nieces in Illinois and California. Even in the last months of his life, Bill stuck to the belief that maybe a good dose of chili would cure what ailed him, but, alas, what ailed him was beyond even the chili's powers. A memorial service for Bill will be held at Getz Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 29, at 2:00 p.m. The family suggests that donations to the Wounded Warrior Project be made in lieu of sending flowers. PDF Printable Version