Clarksville Leaf Chronicle -- A Rossview High School graduate whose portrait is painted on the school walls died Wednesday in Iraq.

Spc. Joshua Lee Plocica, 20, of Clarksville died in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device, according to a Department of Defense news release.

Plocica was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Lisa Thompson, Plocica's mother, said family and friends miss him dearly, but they are celebrating his life.

"Josh would want everyone to celebrate his life, not mourn his death," she said. "He loved life; he was one of those people who lit up a room with his smile when he walked in. He was so genuine."

Georgie True, Plocica's grandmother, said she knows her grandson will be remembered for his respectful and loving personality.

"He was one of the most loving people I knew in my life," True said. "He truly was an angel sent here for a little while."

Thompson said her son had been deployed for only three months and joined the military in August 2006, a few months after he graduated from Rossview High.

Plocica followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Army retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael T. True and uncle, Master Sgt. William C. Clark II, in serving his country. He deployed to Iraq for the first time on March 9.

When Plocica was enrolled at Rossview High, he and his art teacher, Mary Bryant, projected a picture of him on the wall next to the art room and painted his portrait on the wall.

The life-size picture will become a memorial for Plocica, his mother and grandmother said.

"Mrs. Bryant the art teacher called my daughter today to see what they will put on the wall," True said.

Thompson said the memorial will serve as a reminder to those who knew Plocica and those who didn't know about his loving and giving spirit.

Plocica will be buried at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. True said funeral arrangements are not complete, but more information will be available next week.

Pastor Jimmy Russell of Cornerstone Worship Center will officiate.

In addition to his mother and grandmother, Plocica is survived by his stepfather Keith Thompson, his father, David Corbin of Elizabethtown, Ky., and sister, Brenna Corbin. "We all loved him so much, He loved all of us and we all know Josh is with God today," True said.