William E. Viss

William E. Viss (Bill), 92, passed away at Dock Woods, Lansdale, on Friday, July 26, 2024. He was the loving husband of 72 years to Charlotte (Eggink) Viss.
Born in Modesto, California, he was a son of the late Charles and Phyllis (Broekema) Viss.
Bill studied at Ripon Christian Elementary and High School, Calvin University, and San Francisco State University (B.A, M.A.) with a music major, specializing in piano; he did additional studies at Columbia University, Long Beach State University and University of Pennsylvania.
Bill was a music teacher, teaching music and doing school administration in schools in New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania. He was Admissions Director at Geneva College in Pennsylvania, Director of Evangelism at New Life Presbyterian Church in Glenside, Pa., Missionary to Ugandan refugees in Nairobi, Kenya, and Missionary to Amsterdam, The Netherlands until his retirement. He volunteered at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood New Jersey and with the John Guest Evangelistic Foundation in Ukraine.
He was a founding member and the first board president of World Harvest Mission (now Serge). He was the owner of Glenside Home Services, a property management business.
After retirement he did volunteer work in South Africa, at Correctional Facilities in Montgomery and Bucks Counties, and with international students in Philadelphia. For many years he volunteered as Chaplain at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Home in Hatboro, Pa.
Bill and Charlotte traveled extensively for ministry and pleasure through Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Bill was known for his ability to lead teams of young people to do ministry in European cities.
Bill was an accomplished pianist and organist. He loved classical music. He loved architecture, history and biblical studies and - especially in his later years - was an avid reader in those fields. He had a wonderful sense of humor and an unending supply of (Clancy) jokes with which he could amuse friends of every age. He loved the water, especially ocean waves, and he loved to look at and remark on how beautiful flowers and clouds are. No day was complete without a good cookie or bowl of ice cream.
Bill was known for his hospitality and his ability to welcome anyone into his home and his life. There are countless stories of (young) people whose lives were changed by their contact with him. He was a faithful friend and a generous giver of any resource he had.
Bill loved Jesus and he loved introducing anyone he met to his Lord and Savior.
In addition to his wife, Charlotte, he is survived by his children, Norman Viss (Cyndi), Evelyn Smith (Robert), Stanley Viss (Rachel), and Carol Van Dyken (Daryl); he is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
He is predeceased by his parents and siblings, his son Jonathan William Viss, and his great-granddaughter Nora Poor.
Viewing and visitation will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, from 9:00-10:30am at Dock Woods Chapel, 275 Dock Dr, Lansdale, PA 19446, with the funeral service to begin at 10:30am.
Burial services will follow at Immanuel Leidy's Church Cemetery with a luncheon following at Immanuel Leidy's Church (273 W Cherry Ln, Souderton, PA 18964)
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made in William's name to Trans World Radio at https://give.twr.org/global-fund.html?sourceid=INEVGR&utm_source=paidsearch&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=Evergreen&gad_source=1 would be greatly appreciated.