Virgil S. Hart 1921-2003 Obituary
Virgil S. Hart, 82, a resident of the Hazelwood community, passed away at 6:38 p.m. Saturday in Davis Memorial Hospital.
He was born March 8, 1921, at Mingo, the son of the late Elam Vance Hart and Mary Regina Stewart Hart.
On Oct. 3, 1951, at Elkins, he was married to the former Luella Tingler, who survives.
Surviving are two sons, Calvin V. Hart of Elkins and Hugh A. Hart of Duquesne, Pa.; one daughter, Hazel Regina Strickland of Goldsboro, N.C.; one foster daughter, two grandsons, one foster grandson, one stepgranddaughter, one great granddaughter and his senior companion, Jack Harper.
Mr. Hart was a graduate and valedictorian of his class at both Beverly High School and Davis & Elkins College.
He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps in September 1942. After seeing action in Europe, which included landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day, he was discharged in December 1945.
He returned to Randolph County to begin his teaching career until his retirement in July 1979. During his retirement, he wrote many poems. He later worked for the Randolph County Historical Museum in Beverly, a job for which he was duly qualified because both of his grandfathers had served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was an avid collector of Civil War material.
Mr. Hart was a member of Randolph Lodge No. 55 AF & AM of Beverly, Chapter No. 23 of Royal Arch Masons of Beverly, Knights of Templar Commandery No. 21 of Elkins, Osiris Shrine of Wheeling, Randolph Chapter No. 74 Order of the Eastern Star, Tygart Valley Lodge No. 66 Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Beverly and the William Erving Encampment No. 55 IOOF of Elkins.
He was also a member of the American Order of the French Croix de Guerre, Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation, the West Virginia and Randolph County Education Associations, H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and the Valley Bend Presbyterian Church.
Friends may call from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Tygart Valley Lodge No. 66, IOOF of Beverly will conduct a ritualistic service. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday from the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Donald L. Lockhart and the Rev. Bernard Teter officiating. Interment will follow at the Hazelwood Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded by members of the H.W. Daniels Post No. 29 American Legion and Tygart Valley Post No. 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Members of the Randolph Lodge No. 55 AF & AM of Beverly will conduct Masonic graveside rites. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Randolph County Historical Museum of Beverly, in care of the Randolph County Historical Society, PO Box 1164, Elkins, or the Hazelwood Cemetery, PO Box 1876, Elkins.
The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Virgil S. Hart.
Virgil S. Hart 1921-2003 Obituary
