Poland-Thompson Funeral Home
Virgil Edward Stinson, 90, passed away October 23, 2023. He was born in Caldwell County, Cameron Missouri on May 13, 1933 to Thomas Ezra Stinson and Mildred Elizibeth (Mattox) Stinson.
Virgil grew up nine miles South-East of Cameron Missouri where he attended Pleasant Grove Country School before he moved to Clinton Country and attended Fountain Country School. Upon completion of the 8th grade, he started attending Cameron High School; But by December of his freshman year, he was forced to drop out in order to help support the family due to his dad’s passing. Virgil was the second oldest with five sisters and no brothers.
In 1953 Virgil was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. While in bootcamp at Fort Leonardwood, he and his Platoon were issued orders to be shipped to the Republic of Korea. The night before his departure, the Korean war ended. This resulted in him being ORDMOD-ed to the Army Corp of Engineers, Camp Hale, Colorado; Where he served the remainder of his two year commitment as a heavy equipment mechanic, leaving the Army in 1955.
Virgil returned to Cameron Missouri for a short period before moving to Palmdale California where he lived with his Aunt and began his employment for General Telephone & Electronics. While working for GT&E, he attended night school in Long Beach California to attain his high school diploma.
In 1957 GT&E took over Cameron Missouri Telephone, granting Virgil the opportunity to transfer back to Cameron. While working for GT&E in Cameron, Virgil met the love of his life, Beverly J. (McLaughlin) Stinson; And two years later, May 13 of 1962 they were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church, Cameron Missouri.
In the coming years Virgil and Beverly were blessed with four children; On July 3, 1963 Virgil and Beverly assumed guardianship of Virgil’s Niece Cindy E. Smith; January 1, 1964 Marsha J. Stinson, (Dec) January 1 1964; September 5, 1966, James T. (Damieta) Stinson; September 24, 1968, Darrel L. (Karla) Stinson
Upon retirement from GT&E, August 31, 1983, Virgil worked as a busdriver for the Cameron School Bus District for the next 13 years, while also operating a small farm south of Cameron.
In 1996 Virgil quit working for the Cameron School Bus District and retired from farming before soon moving to Edwards, Missouri where he bought property on the Lake of the Ozarks.
Virgil enjoyed his retirement for the next 27 years, becoming a well respected member of his small community. He had a heavy hand on the upbringing of his grandchildren, instilling a love of farm fresh food, tractors, fishing, baseball caps, and overalls.
Above all else, Virgil’s family cherished him and the impact he had on their lives as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and grandpa, great-grandpa
He is preceded in death by his dad Thomas E. Stinson, sister Nelly F. (Stinson) Smith, infant daughter Marsha J. Stinson, sister Lela E. (Stinson) Teal, mother, Mildred E. Stinson, sisters Wilma F. (Stinson) Christopher and Luetta M. (Stinson) Crowley.
Survivors: Wife, Beverly, of the home; children, Cindy E. Smith, Branson, Missorui, James (Damieta) Stinson, Edwards, Missouri, Darrel (Karla) Stinson, Andover, Kansas; 8 grandchildren, Adam W. Gehrs, Kansas City, MO, Morgan E. Gehrs, Raymore, MO, Hannah L. (Stinson) (D.J.) Mahannah, Andover, KS, Deja R. Stinson, St. Louis, MO, Hayden J. Stinson, Andover, KS, Semaj N. Stinson, Lebanon, MO, Jabari A. Stinson, Edwards, MO, Karson C.
Stinson, Andover, KS; 2 great-grandchildren, Rachel A. Riddle, Cameron, MO, Gracyn L. Simpson-Gehrs, Grain Valley; 1 sister, Alta I. (Stinson) Falke, Kansas City, MO.
Visitation: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the Poland Thompson Funeral Home.
Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Monday, October 30, 2023 at Graceland Cemetery, Cameron Missouri
Burial in Graceland Cemetery.
