Virgil D. Courtney

Virgil D. Courtney, Lenexa, Kansas, a former longtime Maryville resident, died at home on January 12, 2011. Virgil was born November 6, 1924, in Ewing, Missouri, to Louis A. Courtney and Roxy J. Penrod Courtney. In 1928 his family moved to the Maryville area where he lived until retiring in Arizona.

Virgil graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1942 before joining the US Navy in 1943. He served our country for 3 years during WWII, with 2 of these years aboard the USS North Carolina. The USS North Carolina was the only battleship involved in all 15 major battles in the south Pacific, most occurring during Virgil's service, for which he received eleven bronze stars.

A year after returning to Maryville from the War, Virgil began his 43-year career with Nodaway Worth Electric Cooperative. From the entry-level, ‘ground man' position, he was promoted six times over his first 20 years, until being named General Manager. He led the organization for 23 more years until his retirement in 1990. As former employees will recall, Virgil often mentioned how proud he was to serve those many years for an organization which gave so much back to its members.

While with the Electric Cooperative, he served on various local, state, and national committees and boards. This included serving on the board of RESCO-Rural Electric Supply Cooperative which served the needs of Cooperatives in 12 states, and was president for nine years of ACRE, a political action committee.

Virgil also served the Maryville community by active participation in the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, holding the office of president in both. Additionally, he served the Nodaway County Red Cross, United Way, St Francis Hospital Fund Drive, Maryville Planning and Zoning Board, and the Nodaway County Public Water Supply District. For the latter, Virgil was instrumental in the creation of the Water District and volunteered as secretary/treasurer from its inception in 1972 until his retirement in 1990.

Other memberships included American Legion Post 100, Nodaway Masonic Lodge #470, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry #320, and Moila Shriners of St Joseph, Missouri.

During his life, Virgil embodied the heart and soul of America-hard work, self-reliance, and love of family, friends and country. An extremely patriotic American, he was honored to have served with his generation in WWII to preserve our freedoms and proudly displayed the Flag daily.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: James, Albert (Lazelle), Gerald, and Conlin, one sister, Arcella Couts, and grandson, Matthew Taylor.

He is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife of 64 years, Roberta, Lenexa, Kansas; son Perry and his wife, Gladys, of Maryville, Missouri; daughter Debbie and husband Steve Taylor of Olathe, Kansas; grandson Josh Taylor and wife Julie of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; grandson Christopher of Marshfield, Missouri; granddaughter Jessica of Denver, Colorado; and by 3 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ryan, and Lauren Taylor.

Memorials in Virgil's name to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial, the Alzheimer's Association, the American Heart Association, or the Moila Shriners of St Joseph, Missouri, would be deeply appreciated

Services

A celebration of Virgil's life will be held on January, 29, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Maryville Country Club, lunch following.