Virgil Leo Sowell

Surrounded by family, Virgil Leo Sowell passed away on April 25, 2012 in Durant, Oklahoma. He was born February 18, 1926 in Abilene, Texas to father Thomas Earl and mother Martha Ellen. He was the youngest of five children which included brothers Leonard & Guernsey and sisters Mayo & Perlene. They lived in Hamlin, Texas where he first developed his love of hunting and fishing. At the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother to George Higgs, the family moved to Lueders, Texas. Upon graduating from high school in 1944, he joined the army and served in the South Pacific predominantly in the Phillipines and later in Kyoto, Japan. In 1946, he married the love of his life Marjorie Louise Graves. They shared 66 happy years together and their union produced 3 children: Ron, Shirley, and Leisha. Virgil was called to serve his country again during the Korean conflict from 1950 -1951. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant while he was stationed in Ft. Worth, Texas. In 1952, Virgil moved his family to Roswell, New Mexico where they lived for the next 35 years. He worked in the financial industry serving as the District Manager for Universal CIT and later as the Senior Vice President in charge of the installment loan department at the Security National Bank.. He retired at the age of 55 and moved to Durant, Oklahoma in 1987 to devote more time to his lifelong passion of fishing. For the next 25 years, he spent many happy days with his fishing buddies on the peaceful waters of Lake Texoma. Virgil was a devout Christian and a member of the Church of Christ. He served as a deacon in Roswell, an elder in Durant, and as a song leader in both congregations. He was a devoted husband and father, and a beloved grandfather and great grandfather. He had a kind heart and a playful sense of humor. He had a beautiful tenor voice and a great love for gospel and barbershop music. He played a mean harmonica and could whistle the birds right down from the trees. He loved to tell stories and play practical jokes. Friends and strangers alike were touched by his warm and generous spirit. Virgil Leo Sowell was a good man in every sense of the word. He will be sorely missed and often remembered by everyone who knew him. He was preceeded in death by his parents and all of his brothers and sisters. He leaves behind his loving wife Marjorie, his son Ron and wife Sally of Charleston, WV, daughter Shirley Fitzgerald & husband Charlie of Little Elm, Texas, and daughter Leisha Archer and husband Kelly of Plano, Texas. Also surviving is granddaughter Stacia Goss and husband Matt, granddaughter Mira Stanley, granddaughter Haley Archer, grandson Ryan Fitzgerald, grandsons Nathan & Jacob Archer, great grandson Duggan Goss and great granddaughter Emmy Goss. A memorial service will be held Saturday April 28 at 2:00pm at the NorthWest Church of Christ, 1421 Chuckwa Drive in Durant Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers please send donations to PettiJohns Spring Camp, 157 Pettijohn Road, Madill, Ok 73446. PDF Printable Version

Virgil Leo Sowell

February 18, 1926 - April 25, 2012