Saltillo - W.A. "Will" Gwiasda, 64, died Sunday, May 4, 2008, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. A native of Chicago, Il., he was born January 17, 1944, to Henry and Ellen Bertha Kern Gwiasda. He was a graduate of The University of Illinois at Champaign where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in history. He taught school one year in Chicago before going to work as an engineer for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Florida. It was there he met and married his wife Barbara, July 31, 1971. He transfered to Tupelo in 1976, retiring from Bell South in 1991. However, he continued to work as a consultant until 2005. Throughout his life he remained interested in history, particularly the Civil War and World War II. He enjoyed playing golf and working on home improvement projects

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with the Rev. Terry Ledbetter officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Barbara Gwiasda of Saltillo; his son, Kevin Gwiasda of Tupelo; two brothers, Karl Gwiasda and wife, Barbara, of Ames, Iowa, and Bill Gwiasda and wife, Joann, of Chicago, Il.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Kimberle Gwiasda who died July 23, 1994.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Castleberry, Dennis Pruett, Johnie Whitaker, Josh Ward, Buddy Vandiver, Micky Floyd.

Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.