ELLENDALE - Our Beloved Father, Virgil Franklin Emory, Sr. passed away of natural causes on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018 at the Fairfax Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fairfax, Va. He was born in Ellendale (Cedar Creek Hundred) on Dec. 7, 1933 to the late Frank G. Emory and Sadie Mae Emory.
He attended Ellendale Elementary School, Milford High School, and St. Benedicts College in Kansas earning his B.A. in Business.
Virgil Sr. was an avid church goer at the United Methodist Church in Bridgeville and in later years converted to Catholicism. He started his career in the U.S. Army where he attended Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and was a Vietnam Veteran. He retired from Active Duty as a Major after a 20 plus year career in the U.S. Army. Following his time in the Army, Virgil worked at I.G. Burton's in Milford as a service manager and thereafter sold real estate for a short period of time. Virgil retired at the early age of 40 and enjoyed life to the fullest up until his death. He was passionate about caring for the elderly such as both of his parents and parents in law and possessed a strong love for his children and family. His interests included wintering in Florida, boating, crabbing, fishing, hunting and traveling. Virgil had a great sense of humor, enjoyed playing cards, could play the harmonica, sing and made the best steamed crabs around. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Virgil was preceded in death by his first wife, Karen Hedelund Emory; and his second wife, Georgia E. Emory.
He is survived by his sister, Ruth Ann Walls; children, Suzanne H. Johnson and her husband Jay Johnson of Fairfax, Va., Linda H. Emory and her fiancé Michael Kemp of Harrington and Virgil F. Emory, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Ellendale; four grandchildren, Samantha J. Emory, Nicholas J. Luppino, Jr., Jonathan V. Luppino, Rachel H. Johnson; one great granddaughter, Kara Lee; as well as, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his stepchildren from his marriage to Georgia; Jerry Lynn Butler, Denny Collins and Robin Leigh Ryan and grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018 in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St., Milford, DE 19963 with a time of visitation for family and friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at St. Johnstown Cemetery in Greenwood.