Virgil was born on November 8th, 1940 in Bradleyville, Missouri. He was called to be with his Lord and Savior on August 20th, 2024 in Oklahoma City, OK surrounded by his family.
Virgil was raised in Red Rock, Texas. He attended high school in Kingman, Kansas where he played on the football team. He moved to Nicoma Park, OK, then to Del City, OK before settling in Choctaw, OK.
Virgil worked various jobs including painting houses with his brother Geron. He once owned two dump trucks and worked contracting to various jobs and even put himself through welding school and was a certified welder. While living in Nicoma Park he considered attending school to become a preacher. Not knowing if this was the right thing he prayed and after knew where he was meant to be. Law Enforcement.
Virgil began his career with a stint at the Del City Police Department before eventually going to work for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office in 1968. Through his time at the Sheriff’s Office Virgil worked many different aspects, from serving civil process to emergency mental health. He was then promoted to the Chief of the Oklahoma County Jail. In 1997 Virgil retired as the Chief Deputy of the Sheriff’s Civil Division.
Virgil was a member of the Nicoma Park Masonic Lodge, the Del City Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite in Guthrie, OK. He served many years on the Executive Board of the Oklahoma Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association and was Past President and Life Member of the Association. Virgil was a follower of Christ and together with his wife Lynda was involved in his church including being a Sunday School teacher.
Virgil loved being retired. He and Lynda owned property in his home state of Missouri where he and Lynda spent much of their retirement time. They would host a makeshift family – and friends – reunion every year over Memorial Day weekend that they called “Hotdogs on The Hill”. He always had some project he was working on whether it be helping one of the kids with their car or rebuilding a tractor. He had also become a licensed pilot and at one point even owned his own plane.
Virgil was preceded to Heaven by his parents, his brothers Paul, Dwight, Geron, sister Clarabel and great grandson Josiah Batterson. He is survived by his wife, Lynda of the home, his daughter Selynda Shade and her daughter Elina, his sons Vernon “Butch” Neuenschwander and his son Lawson, Tom Tucker, his wife Eileen and their daughter Amanda Downs & her husband Ricky, Bill Tucker, his wife Heather and Bill’s children Elishia Batterson & her husband Daryn and Steven Tucker & his wife Soyeon. He is also survived by his great grand children Nevaeh & Kaydin Tucker, Abel & Isaac Batterson and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside Funeral Services for Virgil will be Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Patterson Cemetery, Bradleyville, Missouri with burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to “The American Heart Association”
