North : LA HABRA : Virgil Fouts, Known for Aiding Needy, Dies

Virgil Fouts, a long-time community volunteer, died Monday, just days after receiving an award created especially for him by the La Habra Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fouts, 64, was known throughout the city as a volunteer who donated time and money to nonprofit groups that help the needy.

The La Habra Heights resident, the co-owner of an electrical contracting business in La Habra, was honored with the chamber’s “Special Achievement Award.”

His wife, Joy, said: “It was very humbling for him to realize the appreciation people had for him.”

Fouts was chief of the La Habra Heights volunteer fire department in the 1970s, past president of the La Habra Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in La Habra.

His death came after a six-year battle with cancer.

His wife said that even when he was in pain, he always kept his commitments.

“He was a person of his word,” she said. “If he said he was going to help with something, he would do it even if he had to crawl. He was very caring.”

In addition to his wife, Fouts is survived by two sons, Randy, 41, of Buena Park, and Larry, 37, of Monrovia, a daughter, Theresa Flor, 39, of La Habra Heights and 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the building fund of La Habra Christian Church, 1400 Vella Vista Drive, La Habra Heights, 90631.

A memorial service will be held at the church Friday at 3:30 p.m.