1930
Virgle
2013
Virgle Leonard Smith Sr.
January 8, 1930 — August 18, 2013
Virgle Leonard Smith, Sr
Funeral services for Virgle Leonard Smith, Sr, were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at the First Baptist Church in Skiatook with Bill Zodrow officiating, assisted by The Rev. Kelly Chronister and Scott Neighbors. Funeral services and interment in the Osage Gardens Cemetery were conducted under the direction of the Sien-Shelton Funeral Home.
Virgle Leonard Smith, age 83, died at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, August 18, 2013, in Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.
Virgle was born January 8, 1930, in Skiatook, Oklahoma to Edgar and Beulah Smith. He grew up and received his education in Vera, graduating in 1948. He married Mary Lee Searle on August 3, 1948, in Tulsa at the Friends Church and the couple made their home in Tulsa until moving to Skiatook in 1954. Virgle lived in Skiatook until 2011, at which time he moved to Broken Arrow to live near his daughter.
Virgle was a member of the First Baptist Church of Skiatook, a member of the Skiatook Schools Board of Education, and an avid sports fan. He and Mary Lee were awarded with a plaque and award for their more than 50 years of support to Skiatook Schools athletics. Virgle was a talented basketball player in high school and later played for a semi-pro basketball team. Virgle’s passions were his church and his relationships there and athletics, where he mentored and supported many youth through the years, even after his own children had already graduated. He was a loving and caring man who loved and enjoyed his friends and anyone he met.
Before moving to Tulsa, Virgle was employed by Hanna Lumber Company in Tulsa, where he worked until 1954. After his relocation in Skiatook, Virgle was a lumber and building materials manager at Skiatook Lumber Company, which became Smith Building Center, until the early 80s. He was employed until 1984 with Keller Building Products, and then retired.
He and his wife Mary Lee were married 59 years at the time of her death in September, 2007. The couple had two children, Virgle, Jr. and Suzanne.
Virgle was preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife, Mary Lee; two brothers, Howard and LeRoy; and two infant sisters, Ruby and Dolores.
Virgle is survived by his children, Virgle, Jr. and wife Suzanne of Claremore, OK; Suzanne Shepherd and husband Dr. Michael Shepherd, DDS, of Tulsa, OK; five grandchildren, John Smith and wife Cathy, Dr. Lindsay Smith, DDS, and wife Brooke, and Kimberly Slagle and husband Corey; Stephen Shepherd, and Megan Shepherd; six great-grandchildren, Chase Smith, Nicholas Smith, Ainsley Smith, Marin Smith, Emma Slagle and Sophie Slagle; one sister, Sybil Harper of Gentry, AR; Ed Smith and wife Maxine of Tulsa, OK; Billy Ray Smith, Collinsville, OK; two sisters-in-law, Ursula Smith (Leroy) and Mabel Smith Pletcher (Howard); many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, and many, many other relatives and friends.
In particular, Virgle’s best friend, his beloved dog Champ, must be recognized. Champ was with Virgle for 13 years, helping him through the years of his wife’s illness and acting as his contact companion. They shared a special love for each other.
Casket escorts for the services were: John Smith, Lindsay Smith, Stephen Shepherd, Corey Slagle, James Prather, Chase Smith, Herb Forbes and Nicholas Smith. Honorary casket escorts were Kenny Cooper, Gary Butler, Earl Rozell, Bill Linton, Bill Tindell, Morris Neighbors, Charles Carver, Mike Mullins, Dennis Harrison and Bob Clifton.
Music for the service was performed by The Neighbors Quartet, Scott Neighbors and Matt Neighbors.
Those who wish to remember Virgle’s life are encouraged to contribute to a fund established at First Baptist Church for use in mentoring and supporting youth in the community.
Funeral services for Virgle Leonard Smith, Sr, were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at the First Baptist Church in Skiatook with Bill Zodrow officiating, assisted by The Rev. Kelly Chronister and Scott Neighbors. Funeral services and interment in the Osage Gardens Cemetery were conducted under the direction of the Sien-Shelton Funeral Home.
Virgle Leonard Smith, age 83, died at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, August 18, 2013, in Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.
Virgle was born January 8, 1930, in Skiatook, Oklahoma to Edgar and Beulah Smith. He grew up and received his education in Vera, graduating in 1948. He married Mary Lee Searle on August 3, 1948, in Tulsa at the Friends Church and the couple made their home in Tulsa until moving to Skiatook in 1954. Virgle lived in Skiatook until 2011, at which time he moved to Broken Arrow to live near his daughter.
Virgle was a member of the First Baptist Church of Skiatook, a member of the Skiatook Schools Board of Education, and an avid sports fan. He and Mary Lee were awarded with a plaque and award for their more than 50 years of support to Skiatook Schools athletics. Virgle was a talented basketball player in high school and later played for a semi-pro basketball team. Virgle’s passions were his church and his relationships there and athletics, where he mentored and supported many youth through the years, even after his own children had already graduated. He was a loving and caring man who loved and enjoyed his friends and anyone he met.
Before moving to Tulsa, Virgle was employed by Hanna Lumber Company in Tulsa, where he worked until 1954. After his relocation in Skiatook, Virgle was a lumber and building materials manager at Skiatook Lumber Company, which became Smith Building Center, until the early 80s. He was employed until 1984 with Keller Building Products, and then retired.
He and his wife Mary Lee were married 59 years at the time of her death in September, 2007. The couple had two children, Virgle, Jr. and Suzanne.
Virgle was preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife, Mary Lee; two brothers, Howard and LeRoy; and two infant sisters, Ruby and Dolores.
Virgle is survived by his children, Virgle, Jr. and wife Suzanne of Claremore, OK; Suzanne Shepherd and husband Dr. Michael Shepherd, DDS, of Tulsa, OK; five grandchildren, John Smith and wife Cathy, Dr. Lindsay Smith, DDS, and wife Brooke, and Kimberly Slagle and husband Corey; Stephen Shepherd, and Megan Shepherd; six great-grandchildren, Chase Smith, Nicholas Smith, Ainsley Smith, Marin Smith, Emma Slagle and Sophie Slagle; one sister, Sybil Harper of Gentry, AR; Ed Smith and wife Maxine of Tulsa, OK; Billy Ray Smith, Collinsville, OK; two sisters-in-law, Ursula Smith (Leroy) and Mabel Smith Pletcher (Howard); many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, and many, many other relatives and friends.
In particular, Virgle’s best friend, his beloved dog Champ, must be recognized. Champ was with Virgle for 13 years, helping him through the years of his wife’s illness and acting as his contact companion. They shared a special love for each other.
Casket escorts for the services were: John Smith, Lindsay Smith, Stephen Shepherd, Corey Slagle, James Prather, Chase Smith, Herb Forbes and Nicholas Smith. Honorary casket escorts were Kenny Cooper, Gary Butler, Earl Rozell, Bill Linton, Bill Tindell, Morris Neighbors, Charles Carver, Mike Mullins, Dennis Harrison and Bob Clifton.
Music for the service was performed by The Neighbors Quartet, Scott Neighbors and Matt Neighbors.
Those who wish to remember Virgle’s life are encouraged to contribute to a fund established at First Baptist Church for use in mentoring and supporting youth in the community.
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