Virgil E. Anderson, age 85, of Bryan Foster Road in Buckhannon, WV died at 2:15 PM Friday, January 14, 2011 at Holbrook Nursing Home. He was born March 5, 1925 at Hacker Valley, WV, the son of the late Allen M. Anderson and Suffrona V. McCartney Anderson. He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters, and was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean Mick Anderson, whom he married on September 20, 1948. Also surviving are two sons, Larry M. Anderson and wife Mary of Buckhannon and David L. Anderson and wife Diane of Bowie, MD; one daughter, Dolores J. Mathew and husband Don of Weston, WV; ten grandchildren, Jason P. Mathew and wife Merrideth of Johnston, RI, Ben J. Mathew and wife Crystal of Holly Springs, NC, Sarah E. Butcher and husband Dusty of Jane Lew, WV, Heather M. Stocker and husband Tim of Buckhannon, Tara N. Rice and husband Scott of Volga, WV, Shauna J. Anderson and Jeff Miller of Pittsburgh, PA, LaTasha M. Anderson and Mariah B. Anderson of Fairmont, WV, Andrea S. and Emily S. Anderson of Bowie, MD; seven great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. Mr. Anderson was employed as a fireman for B. &O. Railroad until steam engines were replaced by diesel locomotives; owned and operated a Radio & TV Repair Shop for several years; and retired from the Physical Plant Dept. of West Virginia Wesleyan College. He was a Baptist by faith. He was inducted into the US Army on July 26, 1943. He served in the 277th Battalion of Combat Engineers in the European Theater of Operations from Nov. 1944 to July 31, 1945, and was awarded with two Bronze Stars. He received an honorable (medical) discharge on December 21, 1945. He was a life member of the VFW Post # 3663 and DAV Pringle Tree Chapter # 5. Friends will be received on Monday, January 17, 2011 from 5-8 PM at the Poling-st. Clair Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 2 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Tim Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in the Buckhannon Memorial Park in Buckhannon. The Buckhannon VFW Post #3663, Frank B. Bartlett Post #7 American Legion, DAV Chapters #5 & #36 will conduct military honors at the graveside. Poling-st. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
