Hilliard Cassada

Hilliard Reeves Cassada, known by friends and loved ones as Bill, passed away Monday, July 13, 2009 at the VA Hospital in Temple, Texas. Bill would have been 85 years old this month.

A native of Asheville, NC Bill had resided in NM and TX for the later years of his life after reuniting with his high school sweet heart.

Bill was the son of the late Jeter Pritchard Cassada and Ruby Ball Cassada. He was also preceded in death by both of his children, his son Teddy Reeves Cassada died January 18, 1991 and his son Eddie Richard Cassada who died April 04, 2004

Bill was Honorably discharged from the ARMY of the United States November 13, 1945 after serving as a PFC for the 170th Infantry Regiment 45th Division during WWII. Bill also gave thousands of hours to Saint Joseph's hospital and the VA hospital in Asheville with selfless volunteer work.

Surviving are his life long love Norma Dale Brown Bright of Leander, Texas; granddaughter Kimberly Cassada Rauch of Lexington, SC and her husband Captain Christopher Rauch, their children, his great-grandchildren Blake Rauch, Tallie Reeves Rauch and Madison-Claire Rauch. Survivors also include brother Joe Cassada and wife Ruby of Asheville, sister Iva Jean Paine of Asheville; grandchildren Dafne and Eddie Richard Junior, and several loved ones whom he felt were his family: Michelle Lopez and Sherry Parrott of Leander, TX; Linda Lynch of Carlsbad, NM; Leon and Judy Roach of Fletcher, NC and their children Amanda and Carson; Tara Leures; Tommy Davis; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

The graveside service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park of Candler with Chaplin McFarland officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team.