Billy Eugene Day

Billy Eugene Day, 73, Virginia Beach, passed away Saturday, December 17, 2005 in Bayside Hospital. Born in Neon, Kentucky, his family later moved to Johnson's Ridge, Ohio where he graduated from Gallia Academy High School in May 1949. Upon graduation, Billy joined the U.S. Navy, and while home on leave from the Great Lakes Navy Training Center, he met his future wife, the former Violet E. Robie, while she was employed at Evans' Cafe. After graduating from Great Lakes as an Electronics Technician, Billy went on to serve at sea during the Korean War. After completing his initial commitment, Billy returned to Gallipolis and opened "Bill's TV Repair Shop" and additionally joined the Gallipolis Police Department. Billy and Violet were married in January 1954 and opened their own establishment, "The Coffee Cup." Billy also volunteered with the Gallipolis Fire Department during this time.

In March 1956, Billy returned to the U.S. Navy where he served until his retirement in 1974 as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3). Billy served at various commands, including the Naval Reserve Center, Portsmouth, Ohio; Fleet Combat Training Center, Dam Neck, Virginia; S.S. Observation Island, Cape Canaveral, Florida; U.S.S. Lawrence (DDG-4), Norfolk, Virginia; and the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia. Billy made several long-term deployments to the Mediterranean Sea during his career. For the next twenty years after his Navy retirement, Billy was employed by Texas Instruments and later Honeywell, Corp. as an Instrument Technician.

Billy was an active member of Lynnhaven United Methodist Church, and he served over 25 years as volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad, and a long-term volunteer with the Red Cross. For eight years, Billy was a volunteer with the Virginia Beach Parking Enforcement for handicap violations, and in the last three years, he was employed by the Virginia Beach Police Department as a Community Service Officer.

Billy is survived by his wife, Violet R. Day; a daughter, Linda D. Lancaster and husband Douglas Lewis, Landrum, South Carolina; a son, Robert E. Day and wife Rebecca, Portsmouth, Virginia; six grandchildren: Taryn D. Brown, Jehan D. Pritchett, Kenneth E. Day and Kirstyn A. Day, all of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Thomas R. Day and Ellen M. Day, both of Portsmouth, Virginia; two great-grandchildren, Samara Pritchett and Haylee Day, both of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; a sister, Barbara Harmon and husband the Rev. Eugene Harmon, Gallipolis; in-laws William and Jean Barr, Kerr and Keith and Cheryl Robie, Gallipolis, Carroll Robie, Marvin and Marguerite Robie, Joyce Robie, all of Bidwell, and Elizabeth Briggs of Tucson, Arizona.

Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by the Vinton American Legion Post #161 at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 6, 2006 in Vinton Memorial Park.

Memorial services will follow at 12:00 Noon with Reverend Eugene Harmon officiating at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1110 First Avenue, Gallipolis under the direction of McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Vinton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to:
The Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department
2018 Chestnut Street
Gallipolis, OH, 45631