Obituary for Virgil Tanner

Ponca City Now - May 15, 2016 12:00 am

Virgil Jimmie Tanner – Veteran

(June 10, 1932 – May 15, 2016)

Virgil Jimmie Tanner of Newkirk, Oklahoma, died Sunday morning, May 15, 2016, in the Claremore Veterans Center, Claremore, Oklahoma, at the age of 83 years.

Virgil Jimmie Tanner was born on June 10, 1932, in Avery, Oklahoma, to Stephen Floyd and Frieda M (Dahkle) Tanner. He married Dorothy May Huston on July 27, 1952, in Blackwell, Oklahoma and she preceded him in death on June 16, 2014. He joined the United States Army on August 1, 1952, serving in the Korean Conflict and was discharged honorably on April 30, 1954. He was a volunteer fireman in Peckham, Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4979, farmer, truck driver, worked for the gas company in Tonkawa, electrical worker and a carpenter. He enjoyed car shows and county fairs. If something was broken in the community, people brought it to him to be fixed. He loved to plan activities for children at family events.

He is survived by one daughter, Valerie J. Ross and husband Rodney of Stillwater; four grandchildren, Anna Ross of Stillwater, Austin Ross of Stillwater, Rodney Ross Jr. of Stillwater and Kristi Gazaway of Ponca City; one brother, Francis Hugh Tanner of Oklahoma City; and one sister, Frieda Josephine Jones of Arkansas City, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Victor Eugene Tanner and Virgil Johnnie Tanner; three brothers, Floyd Henry Tanner, Everett Ernest Tanner and Loy Lee Tanner; and one sister, Ona Katherine Tanner.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 20, 2016, at the Newkirk Cemetery, Newkirk, Oklahoma, with Rev. Rev. Lee Mefford, Peckham Christian Church, Peckham, Oklahoma, officiating.

A memorial has been established with the Peckham Christian Church c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.