Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Another icon to have left a legacy in the Sugar Grove community was Virgil Ray Homan, Jr., who passed March 9, 2025. Born Oct. 8, 1927, (delivered by Dr. Stover), he was the fourth of six sons to the late Leafy Mitchell and Dr. Virgil Homan. He grew up at the Homan mill, with the raceway going past the kitchen window. His mother told of a time Virgil was about 2 years old, when his brother, Richard, put him on a door and took him across the raceway. Needless to say, Leafy held her breath until they reached the other side!
He grew up learning all about the works of the mill. His culture lent itself to hog butchering, party lines, introduction of electricity, lawn parties, the circus and air shows. He enjoyed going to the swimming hole during the summer months, and fishing in the river when time allowed it.
Oftentimes, Virgil would walk to the store where his uncle, Pleas, worked. He was intrigued with the money exchanging hands, which culminated over time to his becoming a coin collector. He also collected old bottles and canning jars. After he started with Shenandoah Pride, they both collected old milk bottles. Something special that he held dear was his dad’s pencil box that was used whilst attending the Veterinary College in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Each of the boys had daily chores…Virgil’s being helping to take care of Walter and later assisting John with the kitchen work.
Attending Sugar Grove Elementary School was the normal with his friends, Junior Bowers, Ed Kiser, Stellman Simmons, and Gernon Hoover. They, along with his brothers, would play games, such as Annie Over, Fox and Geese, Prisoner’s Base, and Hide and Seek.
Upon receiving his driver’s license at the age of 16, he bought a 1949 Chevrolet convertible. Even so, he told the writer that he was driving at the age of 13 into Virginia to the Blakemore Place to either deliver or bring farm hands. Oftentimes, the boys walked and drove cattle across Reddish Knob, starting out at 6 in the morning, and arriving at the Blakemore Place by noon.
During high school, Dona Propst was his basketball coach, who saw to Jim Mitchell and he getting to ball games.
His cousin, Alda Berlin, introduced his future bride, Jeanne Bowman, at the Franklin Carnival, later marrying her on Dec. 12, 1959. They lived with Leafy at the homestead, until Fred Simmons moved and sold his house in Possum Trot. They were so proud of their children, Gregory (deceased), Julia and Jill, along with their grandchildren, Rachel, Taylor, and Wyatt.
Virgil was the second civilian to be hired in 1953 at the Naval Station. In 1978, he worked for Shenandoah Pride, delivering milk daily to the Petersburg, Dorcas, Franklin, Arthur, and Brandywine schools, retiring in 1996.
There were many things that made Virgil happy. In the music department, he loved Polka and Big Band, and he kept his mind active with jigsaw puzzles, cryptoquotes and word searches. He enjoyed eating white beans, roast beef, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. He was enthused with the antique cars. But, most of all, he loved to refinish furniture with oak being his favorite. He was very proud of his mother’s ice box which he refinished. He also had a fondness for animals, especially dogs and cats.
He and Jeanne frequented auctions, collecting depression glass along the way. They travelled to Florida, Outer Banks and Asheville, North Carolina, and the Smoky Mountains.
When asked by the writer what he appreciated in life, he noted the Homan legacy. It didn’t hurt to work. One should also be responsible, be a good and honest person, and enjoy a joke or two along the way. He added that one should appreciate the many freedoms afforded one, and to exercise the right to vote.
And so, to the family, condolences are being extended, knowing that Vigil lived a good life.
“God knows the way, He holds the key, He guides with unerring hand;
Some time with tearless eyes we’ll see; Yes, there, up there, we’ll understand.
Then trust in God thro’ all the days; Fear not, for He doth hold thy hand;
Though dark thy way, still sing and praise, Some time, some time, we’ll understand.”
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Don’t brag excessively in conversations.
- Give people space in line
- Don’t talk during a movie.
- Respect others’ time; don’t be late.
- Don’t leave hair in the shower drain.
Spring is officially here for one and all to enjoy. Many folks can’t wait for warmer weather, and have gotten out their lawn mower to test the green grass! Testing that business out makes for a long mowing season.
Quotes:
“I avoid looking back. I prefer good memories to regrets.” — Grace Kelly
“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.” — John Wayne
“Things go up and down. If you can survive the down, it will come back.” — John Denver
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Three things can ruin a man: power, money, and women.” — Harry S. Truman
There is room beside the fireplace to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Connor Armstrong, son of Tracy and Bobbie Armstrong turned 14 on Sunday. Happy birthday!
The writer noted that Mrs. Dyer (Anne) Anderson of Fairfax, Virginia, turned 90 years of age on March 13. There was a wonderful birthday party “splash” with her family and friends over the weekend. Hope you celebrate many more, Anne!
The social studies fair was held this past weekend at Musselman High School in Inwood. Ava Bowers presented her project titled, “Murderer Convicted by a Ghost.”
Phil Downs motored to Springfield, Virginia, where he, along with other friends and family, attended his grandson’s memorial service.
Friday night found Evelyn Varner, Janet Judy, Terry Harper, Geneva Mongold, and Rose Brackman attending the gospel singing at the Victory Fellowship Church in Dayton, Virginia
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
The secret ballot box, the most prized symbol of democracy, was pioneered in 1856 in Victoria, Australia.
The first known labor strike in recorded history took place around 1152 B.C. in Egypt.
Fleas can jump 350 times its body length.
Cats have 32 muscles in each ear.
Canada has six time zones: Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic, Newfoundland and Labrador.
April birthdays include the following: Charlee Hoover, first; Judy Austin, Nancy Evick and Willy Fisher, second; Greg Hoover, third; Derek Crider, fourth; Danielle Hoover and Wesley Puffenbarger, fifth; Keith Kiser, sixth; Margaret Sasscer and Judy Rader, seventh; Diana Mitchell, Maxine Rader, John Todd, Josh Parker and Vera Teter, ninth; Sherry Wilfong and Thelma Puffenbarger, 10th; Jim Holstein, Mike Alt and Sunny Morrison, 11th; Ruth Craig, Lisa (Greg) Jamison and Landon Bowers, 12th; Bryer Puffenbarger, 14th; and Terry Simmons, Ava Bowers, Frankie Roberson and Beth Propst, 15th.
Concerns are for the following: the Elizabeth Alt family, Charles Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, the Timmy Bennett family, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Patty Chapman, Marie Cole, the Robert Cook family, Stanley Dahmer, Phil Downs, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, the “Buck” Geary family, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Donald Hedrick, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, the Virgil Homan, Jr. family, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, the Enos Horst family, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, the Ralph “Pete” Keplinger family, the Sherwin Kimble family, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Rick Neil, Aaron Nelson, Angie Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Terri Parker, Wilma Pitsenbarger Rexrode, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Natalie Stephenson, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Gary, Carol, and Jon Swecker, the Turner family, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, Christians persecuted around the world, people of war ravaged countries and families affected by natural disasters.
