Robert W. LaDu

DR. ROBERT W. LADU WEAVERVILLE - Dr. Robert Willet LaDu, age 93, of Weaverville, died suddenly at his Weaverville home on Friday, January 24, 2014. Dr. LaDu was born June 27, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Roy and Nannie Sophia Anderson LaDu. Bob served as 1st Lieutenant with the 45th division of the U.S. Army Infantry in North Africa and Italy during World War II and was wounded twice. He was awarded two purple hearts and a bronze star during his military career. After the war, Dr. LaDu returned to Michigan State to attend veterinary school. He married his first wife, Maynette Little, who was an Army nurse he met while convalescing from his wounds in Italy. They had two children and lived briefly in Wisconsin and Ohio before moving to Asheville in 1957 where Dr. LaDu practiced veterinary medicine for the next thirty years. Upon retiring from veterinary practice they moved to rural Madison County. After Maynette died, Bob again found love and married Barbara Cain of Weaverville. For the past two decades they have lived in Weaverville. They have been active members of Salem United Methodist Church. During this time, Bob had been active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and they have both accumulated over five thousand hours of volunteer service at the Veterans Administration Hospital and at the Brian Center in Weaverville. Surviving are his wife, Barbara Goldsmith Cain LaDu; daughter, Patricia Christy and husband Mark of Ocean Isle Beach; son, Bill LaDu and wife Becky of Asheville; three grandchildren, Andrea Jarriel of Boca Raton, FL, Nathan Christy of Ocean Isle Beach, and Daniel LaDu of Tuscaloosa, AL; three step children, Teresa Wells and husband Randy of Asheville, Thomas H. Cain, Jr. and wife Felicia of Burbank, CA, and Joseph A. Cain of Asheville. His funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at Salem United Methodist Church in Weaverville, with Rev. John Blalock officiating. Burial will be in Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post # 5483, Mars Hill Memorial Team. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, where his body will remain until placed inside the church one hour prior to the service. At other times the family will be at the residence. Flowers are welcome. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider Salem United Methodist Church, 9 Salem Church Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Dr. LaDu's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com. His funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at Salem United Methodist Church in Weaverville, with Rev. John Blalock officiating. Burial will be in Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post # 5483, Mars Hill Memorial Team. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, where his body will remain until placed inside the church one hour prior to the service.