Virgil Joseph Strange, 84, of Atlantic Beach, FL, went to his Heavenly home on Friday, June 1, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth Strange. He leaves behind his daughters Cynthia Hagist and Kristina (Donnie) Schurer; grandson Daniel (Kendra) Cobb; granddaughters Kaylee and Kelsey Schurer; and great-granddaughter Mackenzie Cobb.
Chapel service will be held at 11 am, Monday, June 11, 2018, at The Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, GA. Graveside service will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Virgil was born October 19, 1933 to the late George J. and Sarah Mahala Strange of Ocilla, GA. He had one sister, Martha (Marty) Strange.
He married Elizabeth Robinson on February 26, 1956. They raised their two daughters in Dothan, AL before settling in Atlantic Beach, FL in 1971.
Virgil served in the Army and the Army Reserve from 1956 to 1962. He graduated from Troy State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science and pursued his master’s degree in business at the University of North Florida. Virgil worked for the phone company while living in Dothan, Alabama. After moving to Florida, he worked for Robinson Distributors and Home Gas Company and later retired from Able Products in 2007.
He was an artist, working in various forms such as hand-painted china, the Ukrainian egg-decorating art of Pysanky (including his well-known “football eggs”), and oil and acrylic paintings.
He was a loving, devoted husband and daddy, and will be missed by many.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Jacksonville, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32257 and the American Lung Association, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216.