Virgil R. Lyons...Age 78

CREMATION

MEMORIAL SERVICES WILL BE AT 1:30PM THURSDAY,MAY 15, 2014
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH, OSAWATOMIE, KANSAS

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Virgil Ross Lyons age 78, of rural Osawatomie, Kansas died Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas.

Virgil was born on December 21, 1935 at home in Mound Creek Township, Kansas. He was the seventh child of thirteen children born to Melvin Ellis and Josephine P. (Thompson) Lyons.

He grew up in Mound Creek area and rural Osawatomie and attended school in a one room school house, Mound Creek Country School. He then attended high school at Parker, Kansas, graduating from Parker High School with the class of 1953.

After finishing high school on September 10, 1953 Virgil enlisted in the United States Air Force. After completing his basic training he was sent to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming where he attended USAF Technical School. He was then sent to Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.

While in the military Virgil came back home and asked his sweetheart to marry him. On October 19, 1956 Virgil and Betty Lou Miller married at a family member’s home in Osawatomie. Virgil re-enlisted in the Air Force for six more years and the couple went to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. Virgil was later sent to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois where he was trained in Air maintenance and Gas Turbine Compressor Maintenance. Later he was transferred to Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. On December 10, 1962 after serving nine years in the Air Force, Virgil was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Staff Sargent – Aero Space Ground Equipment Tech.


He and Betty Lou moved back to Osawatomie and started a family. Having no children of their own they adopted a son Curtis Lyons. Virgil and Betty later fostered many children in their home one of which was a family members daughter that soon became a “daughter” to them Jackie Lyons. When they became grandparents to a baby boy they again took over the role as parents, when at the age of five grandson Justin came to live with them on their farm. When grandson Justin became a single father of his baby son. Virgil opened his heart and his home to grandson Justin and great grandson Daniel.

Virgil worked at several different jobs, he and Betty Lou contracted mail pick up with the government for areas in Miami County and delivered it to Kansas City for about eight years. He also worked for Miami County road crew as a road grader for many years. But he mainly worked in the oil business, he held several positions over the thirty-eight years he worked in the business, Virgil never retired, he was still working as an oil pumper at the age of seventy-eight.

Virgil was a member of the cemetery board for the Mound Creek, Quaker and the Beagle Cemeteries for over twenty years and was the head of the board for the last several years.

He was a member and Deacon of the Faith Baptist Church of Osawatomie. Virgil was a highly dedicated member of his church, with strong faith in his belief and a man that truly was a Christian. He never knew a stranger and would help anyone who needed help in any way he could. He would visit with strangers as if he had known them for years. He loved his family and enjoyed his grandchildren with great pride in their accomplishments no matter how great or small.

Virgil was preceded in death by his wife Betty Lou in 2010, his son Curtis Lyons in 2006, and foster daughter Jackie Lyons. Five brothers: Ted, Marion, Phillip, John and Melvin DeLoss Lyons at the age of three, and two sisters: Relda Bruce and Stella Folden.

He is survived by his grandson Justin Ross Lyons and great grandson Daniel Lyons of the home. Two brothers: Frank Lyons of Emporia, KS and Milo (Judy) Lyons of Osawatomie, KS, three sisters: Mary Alice Kuder of Chanute, KS, Irene Croan of Chanute, KS and Geneva (Neva) Lyons of Osawatomie, KS, and grandchildren Derick Downey and Katie Beth Wilson. Four sisters in law:, Donna Burkhart of Osawatomie, KS, June McCoy of Paola, Kansas, Ina Franklin of Texas and Nina Denny of Oklahoma and one brother in law Larry (Colleen) Miller of Springhill, KS along with many other family members and friends.