Slosson Viau, Jr., 91; Western Airlines Advertising Director

Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Slosson E. Viau, Jr., died on July 19, one week after celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary with his lifetime love, Marjorie Zahl Viau. Slosson had been coping with a rare bone-marrow disease, but lived a completely normal life until just a week before his passing. He was 91.   Slosson, a third-generation Californian, was born in Fresno in 1917. He grew up on a 100-acre vineyard on the outskirts of Sanger owned by his father, a Montreal-born entrepreneur and rancher. His mother was a teacher and principal of nearby Granville School. Slosson had an older brother and sister as well as a younger brother who died in infancy. He graduated from Fresno State College and attended one year of law school at UC Berkeley prior to moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in radio. He participated in a CBS workshop in Hollywood for aspiring broadcasters (including the young Chet Huntley) prior to the outbreak of World War II.   On July 12, 1942, before leaving for Europe, Slosson married Marjorie, a native of Missouri and an art teacher for the Beverly Hills School District. He served in the 593rd Signal Corps Battalion of the Army, attached to the Air Force. During his three years of service, Slosson acquired life experiences that he would later chronicle in his ‘Reflections on a G.I. Crossing.’   On May 20, 1946, Slosson began his long career with Western Airlines. He climbed the corporate ladder and eventually became Director of Advertising Services, before retiring in 1981. He helped develop Western’s ‘The Only Way to Fly’ campaign and enjoyed decades of international travel, developing relationships around the world that have endured to the present day.   A resident of the Palisades since 1966, Slosson was a member of Westwood Community Methodist Church for over 60 years and participated in the Westwood Village Rotary. He was a vital, generous and compassionate man.   Slosson is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his sons, Rev. Slosson E. Viau III, a pastor at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church in Seattle, and Randy, an author and investor who lives in the Palisades and in Idyllwild; two grandsons, David and Sean (both of Seattle), and two great-grandchildren, Zachary and Naomi.   In tribute to Slosson, visit www.mem.com