Virgil Sowell

Virgil Odell Sowell, 86, passed away in Georgetown, Texas, Monday, January 7, 2008. He was born at Cobbs Creek, Madison County, Texas, June 22, 1921, to John Onan and Alpha Dickey Sowell. The family moved to Huntsville when he was 5 so Virgil could get a college education. Alpha always planned ahead. He attended public schools in Huntsville and graduated from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1943 with a degree in agriculture. He began work at Sam Houston in 1942 in the maintenance department. In 1943 he began teaching auto mechanics and farm machinery repair in the War Production Program, and continued work on his masters degree. After the war he taught in the Josey Vocational School. He later became director of maintenance at Sam Houston. He retired in 1980. After his retirement he worked at the Huntsville Memorial Hospital in maintenance until 1997. He and his wife, Joyce, had a frame and ceramic shop. In 1949, he married Joyce Elaine Davis, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Milling in Madisonville. They had 52 wonderful years together, until her death in 2001. The light of his life was his two daughters, Teresa Lynn and Lori Elaine. He was very talented in “fixing” things. As a child he tinkered with all kinds of tools and machinery. All his friends called on him to help them fix whatever was broken. He was talented in heavy machinery. He was as much at home on top of a bulldozer or maintainer as he was in a jeep or truck. The family never knew what to expect he would be driving next. After the war, Sam Houston President Harmon Lowman, had a talent for buying army surplus for $1.00. It was Virgil’s job to take an 18 wheeler and go wherever and pick up these purchases and bring them back to Huntsville. He had some very interesting experiences and stories to tell about these trips. His hobby was model trains. He had an elaborate setup of trains that he loved to share with his grandchildren and others. Virgil was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Brady Onan Sowell and his beloved Joyce. He is survived by his daughters: Teresa Lynn Glenn and husband Steve, of Georgetown, and Lori Elaine Mentzel and husband Tim, of Waxahachie. Grandchildren: Kimberly Ann Mahlke and husband Travis, of Georgetown; Kevin Lee Glenn, of College Station; Kyle James Mentzel and Courtney Elizabeth Mentzel, of Waxahachie. Sister: Johnnie Jo Dickenson and husband J. D. of Huntsville. Three nephews: John Euell Sowell and wife Etta, of Vidor; Charles Wayne Sowell and wife Regena, of Denson Springs; and, Joe Brady Sowell and wife Charlotte, of Vidor. Also several great nephews and nieces and numerous cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, January 9, 2008, 5:00 to 7:00 P. M. at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 Normal Park Drive. Services for Virgil Sowell will be conducted from Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, Thursday, January 10, 2008, at 10:00 A. M., with the Rev. Carroll Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Brooke Cemetery. Pallbearers will be John Sowell, Charles Sowell, Joe Sowell, Kyle Mentzel, Kevin Glenn and Travis Mahlke. In lieu of usual remembrances the family request donation be made to the Campus Crusade for Christ, Att: Contributions, P. O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862-8222, or the American Heart Association, 10060 Buffalo Speedway, Houston 77054. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Virgil Sowell

June 22, 1921 - January 10, 2008