Dechants, Joseph Gerald

Joseph Gerald DeChants, 86, of Pearisburg, departed this life Friday morning, April 11, 2008, at Riverview Nursing Home, in Rich Creek, after a long illness.

Born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on March 1, 1922, he was a son of the late Dominick and Mary Del Vecchio DeChants. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps serving in World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was retired from the audio-visual department of the United States Army, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

Sisters, Louise DeChants and Annette DeChants, and two brothers, Michael and Angelo DeChants, preceded him in death. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Rita Gibson DeChants; three sons, Gerald (Letha) DeChants, of Lusby, Md., Michael (Julia) DeChants, of Boynton Beach, Fla., Glenn (Robin) DeChants, of Dale City, Va.; a daughter, Christine Atkins-Blaszak and husband, Dennis, of Blacksburg, Va.; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. in The Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke with the Rev. Aubrey Whitlow officiating. Entombment will follow in Birchlawn Abbey at Pearisburg with Military Services by American Legion Posts 311 and 68 and VFW Post 6000. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Riverview Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care given to Joseph during his illness.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.kendallfuneralhome.com.