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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Virgel Paul
Widger
Jun 10, 1922 — Nov 21, 2008
Obituary
Virgel Paul Widger, son of the late James and Myrtle (Ferguson) Widger, was born in the Dagonia Community of Reynolds County, MO, on June 10, 1922 and departed this life on November 21, 2008 in Maryland Heights, MO at the age of 86 years, five months and 11 days.
At the age of seventeen, Virgel served in the Civilian Conservation Corp in Ellington for a few days, and then transferred to the Bunker Camp for 18 months before being sent to the States of Oregon and Washington to serve in the fore zones. With two brothers already serving in the military, Virgel was sent home to Ellington to help care for his family. However, this only lasted a short time because he was then drafted to serve in the United States Army in March 1943. His basic training was at Camp Campbell, Kentucky.
In 1944 he was deployed to Chester, England to be sent with replacements for the Normandy Invasion troops, landing on Normandy Beach three days after the official invasion, serving from the Hedgerows of Normandy to the Bremen Enclave of Germany.
Even though his parents took him to church while growing up, he never made a profession of faith. One day, engaged in battle, Virgel came to the stark realization that death could occur at any time and that he would die and go to Hell unless he accepted Christ as his savior. Virgel prayed for his sins to be forgiven and that the Lord would save him. This testimony remained very firm to his death.
Virgel served in battle campaigns in Rhineland, Normandy, Central Europe and The Ardennes. He was awarded four Bronze Stars, received the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters. He also received a medal for the service within the European Theater, The Army of Occupational Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Clusters and the World War II Victory Medal. He is entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.
Virgel returned to the United States on a Liberty Ship going past the Statue of Liberty, then on to the family farm in November of 1945 with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army.
On November 19, 1949 Virgel married Lucy Ester Harper in Pocahontas, AR. To this union six children were born. She preceded him in death on January 6, 2002 after fifty-two years of marriage.
Virgel was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Noah and Ludica Harper, brothers, Willis, Carl, Jack and infant twin Billy, sisters, Melba Kuntz, Shirley Black, and infant twin, Betty and "sister of the heart" Elizabeth Blunkall Tefler.
He is survived by sons, Van Widger of Affton, MO, and Rodric and Laveen Widger of Springfield, MO, daughters, Connie and Larry Reifsteck of St. Louis, MO, Janet Widger of Richmond Heights, MO, Tracy and Arthur Goede of Bonne Terre, MO, and MaryBeth and David Zehner of Bridgeton, MO, grandchildren, Adam and Christie Widger of Florence, Alabama, Megan Widger of Springfield, MO, Amanda and Ryan Sherwood of Overland, MO and Justin Widger of Springfield, MO, and one great-granddaughter, Grace Caroline Widger of Florence, Alabama.
He is also survived by a brother, Donald and Julia Widger of Arnold, MO, sisters, Geneva George and June Burns of Salem, MO, sisters-in-law, Wilma Widger of Farmington, MO, Wilma Phillips of Letts, Iowa, Virginia Scott of Bowling Green, MO, and Hazel Harper of Bunker, MO, and Brother-in-law, Leonard Kuntz of Rolla, MO, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Virgel worked in St. Louis, MO at Laclede Gas Company and retired in January, 1981, after thirty years of service, when he and Lucy moved to their home in Turtle, MO.
While living in St. Louis, Virgel was a member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church serving as a Sunday School teacher and deacon until he moved to Turtle, MO and joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Salem, MO.
Visitation: 4 to 8 Monday
Funeral Services: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 11:00 A.M.
McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, MO
Ministers: Bro. Ray L. Schatz and Bro. Dennis Baker
Pallbearers: Jim George, Fred Kuntz, Earl Widger, Carlos Burns, Gerald Harper and Ronald Harper.
Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Homes, Inc. Ellington, MO
In Lieu of Flowers: Lifeword, P.O. Box 6 Conway, AR 72033
At the age of seventeen, Virgel served in the Civilian Conservation Corp in Ellington for a few days, and then transferred to the Bunker Camp for 18 months before being sent to the States of Oregon and Washington to serve in the fore zones. With two brothers already serving in the military, Virgel was sent home to Ellington to help care for his family. However, this only lasted a short time because he was then drafted to serve in the United States Army in March 1943. His basic training was at Camp Campbell, Kentucky.
In 1944 he was deployed to Chester, England to be sent with replacements for the Normandy Invasion troops, landing on Normandy Beach three days after the official invasion, serving from the Hedgerows of Normandy to the Bremen Enclave of Germany.
Even though his parents took him to church while growing up, he never made a profession of faith. One day, engaged in battle, Virgel came to the stark realization that death could occur at any time and that he would die and go to Hell unless he accepted Christ as his savior. Virgel prayed for his sins to be forgiven and that the Lord would save him. This testimony remained very firm to his death.
Virgel served in battle campaigns in Rhineland, Normandy, Central Europe and The Ardennes. He was awarded four Bronze Stars, received the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters. He also received a medal for the service within the European Theater, The Army of Occupational Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Clusters and the World War II Victory Medal. He is entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.
Virgel returned to the United States on a Liberty Ship going past the Statue of Liberty, then on to the family farm in November of 1945 with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army.
On November 19, 1949 Virgel married Lucy Ester Harper in Pocahontas, AR. To this union six children were born. She preceded him in death on January 6, 2002 after fifty-two years of marriage.
Virgel was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Noah and Ludica Harper, brothers, Willis, Carl, Jack and infant twin Billy, sisters, Melba Kuntz, Shirley Black, and infant twin, Betty and "sister of the heart" Elizabeth Blunkall Tefler.
He is survived by sons, Van Widger of Affton, MO, and Rodric and Laveen Widger of Springfield, MO, daughters, Connie and Larry Reifsteck of St. Louis, MO, Janet Widger of Richmond Heights, MO, Tracy and Arthur Goede of Bonne Terre, MO, and MaryBeth and David Zehner of Bridgeton, MO, grandchildren, Adam and Christie Widger of Florence, Alabama, Megan Widger of Springfield, MO, Amanda and Ryan Sherwood of Overland, MO and Justin Widger of Springfield, MO, and one great-granddaughter, Grace Caroline Widger of Florence, Alabama.
He is also survived by a brother, Donald and Julia Widger of Arnold, MO, sisters, Geneva George and June Burns of Salem, MO, sisters-in-law, Wilma Widger of Farmington, MO, Wilma Phillips of Letts, Iowa, Virginia Scott of Bowling Green, MO, and Hazel Harper of Bunker, MO, and Brother-in-law, Leonard Kuntz of Rolla, MO, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Virgel worked in St. Louis, MO at Laclede Gas Company and retired in January, 1981, after thirty years of service, when he and Lucy moved to their home in Turtle, MO.
While living in St. Louis, Virgel was a member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church serving as a Sunday School teacher and deacon until he moved to Turtle, MO and joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Salem, MO.
Visitation: 4 to 8 Monday
Funeral Services: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 11:00 A.M.
McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, MO
Ministers: Bro. Ray L. Schatz and Bro. Dennis Baker
Pallbearers: Jim George, Fred Kuntz, Earl Widger, Carlos Burns, Gerald Harper and Ronald Harper.
Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Homes, Inc. Ellington, MO
In Lieu of Flowers: Lifeword, P.O. Box 6 Conway, AR 72033
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