William Sherman Board

William Sherman (Bill) Board left this world on April 9, 2014 to be with his Father in Heaven. Born on February 24, 1924, he was the son of Effie Hall and Horace Sherman Board. He graduated from Hargrave Military Academy and attended the University of Florida at Gainesville. Bill served during World War II as a member of the Army Airborne Infantry and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1950. He served on active duty until 1953 and later became a member of the Air Force Reserves. During Bills professional life he served as Executive Vice-President of the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce for over sixteen years, until his retirement in 1988. His professional activities included membership in the VA Association of the Chamber of Commerce Executives where he served as secretary, vice-president and president. He was one of the sixteen valley businessmen who organized the Regional Partnership of the Roanoke Valley and served as Secretary and Vice-President of that partnership. He served as Secretary of Salems Industrial Development Authority for a number of years. Bill also served as President of the Salem Kiwanis and Secretary of Salems We the People Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Roanoke Valley Bicentennial Committee. He was the recipient of honors from the VA General Assembly through House Resolution #67 for his accomplishments in the area of economic development. He was named Salems Citizen of the Year in 1984 and received the Kiwanis Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2002. Bill was a lifelong Baptist who served as Chair of the Deacons and teacher of the Berean Bible Class at Salem Baptist Church. In January of 1981 he began a Christian ministry at the Roanoke County Salem Jail where he served as a religious counselor and coordinator of religious volunteers. He was predeceased by his wife Virginia Vaughan Board and is survived by his daughters Betty Smith (Jerry), Sue Baldwin (Rob) and his son Joe Gregory (Vona), his six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem, Friday April 11, 2014. A funeral to honor the life of William Sherman (Bill) Board will take place on Saturday April 12, 2014 at 11 AM in the chapel of the funeral home, with Rev. Everett Kier, officiating. Interment will follow the service at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem. An online guestbook is available at www.johnmoakey.com. The Board family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441.