Virgil Byron Jones, age 85, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake.

Services for Mr. Jones will be held on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. The Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where the family will be present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Virgil was born January 1, 1923 in Rossie, Iowa, the son of Byron and Ruth (Lundt) Jones. He was baptized in the Methodist Church as an infant and later confirmed his faith in that church as a youth. He attended grade school in Spencer, Iowa before moving to Storm Lake during the middle of his junior year. He graduated from Storm Lake High School. Virgil then served his country in the United States Army as an engineer during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star .

On October 12, 1947, Virgil was united in marriage to Doris Esther Anderson at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Marcia, and a son, Brad.

Throughout the years, Virgil remained very active in his work and in community affairs. Virgil owned and operated Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery and Jones’s Nursery, in which he later helped his son. He also worked for many years at Iowa Public Service Co., concluding his career there at the position of Safety Director.

Virgil served as Assistant Chief on the Storm Lake Fire Department, was a member of the Elks Club, was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, and was a member of Alta V.F.W. Post 6172. He was a sports fan who enjoyed watching his favorite teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Bears. He also enjoyed playing Pitch and many other card games. He was a friend to many and will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Marcia (Larry) Lawrence of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; his son, Brad (Diane) Jones of Storm Lake; grandchildren: Marisa Bolton and her husband Brian of Trophy Club, Texas; Ben Jones of West Des Moines, Iowa and Jenny Jones of Storm Lake; his brother-in-law, David Chapman of Taylorsville, North Carolina; extended family and many friends.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris, in 2007; his twin sister, Virginia Wood and her husband, Gene; and his sisters, Cleone Messenger and Wilma Chapman.