Virgil Amos Landes

Virgil Amos Landes, 87, of Reelsville, passed away March 5, 2011 following a brief illness.

He was born in Putnam County Sept. 17, 1923 the son of John Henry and Mamie Alice (Girton) Landes. He was the youngest of nine children. His father was killed in a mining accident when Virgil was six weeks old.

Virgil graduated from Reelsville High School with the class of 1941. He entered the United States Army in 1945 and served with the occupational forces on Kusu, a Southern island of Japan. He worked as a typist in the offices of the Air Force Intelligence.

Upon returning from the military he had worked at Adamson's Saw Mill in Harmony as lead sawyer and then at Arketex, in Brazil, in Quality Control. Virgil farmed in the Putnam County area. He didn't know the meaning of retirement and remained active for the remainder of his days.

Virgil was a member of the Union United Methodist Church, in Brazil. He was always very athletic and competitive. He played basketball at Reelsville High School and in the service.

Upon returning home he continued to play basketball and softball until he was 35 years old.

He often played on leagues with his son, David, and was often mistaken as his brother. In later years he bowled with various leagues in Brazil and won numerous trophies.

He enjoyed coon hunting with his many friends and especially his brothers Albert and Irvin. In later years he enjoyed fishing in his pond with his little buddy, Case and his grandchildren. He always looked for the crocus and daffodils in the spring because that meant mushroom season was soon to follow.

He would often find a patch of mushrooms and cleverly lead his grandchildren to the patch for them to discover.

He never met a stranger. His favorite pastime was chatting with friends and neighbors and telling stories about "the good ole days".

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Lester and Irvin Landes and five sisters: Rachel Duzenberry, Myrtle Logan Boyd, Iva Miller, Nellie McMurray, and Emma Skomp.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Mary (Spears) Landes; son David Landes and wife Nancy of Reelsville,; daughter Brenda Custis and husband Steve of Solsberry; brother Albert Landes of Cloverleaf, Knightsville; five grandchildren, Lisa Robinson of North Carolina, Lori Price and husband Jim of South Carolina, Lynn Taylor and husband Mike of Florida, Chris Custis of Camby, and Jason Custis of Unionville; six great-grandchildren, Darcy Stahl and husband Zach of Center Point, Maggie Baker and husband Mark of North Carolina, Clayton Landes Robinson of North Carolina, and Logan, Michael, and Morgan Taylor of Florida; two great-great-grandchildren, Madison Rae and Kendal Paige Stahl of Center Point; sisters-in-law Ethel Jordan and husband Jake of Greencastle and Betty Hudson of Quincy, Ill. as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Services for Virgil will be at Lawson-Miller Chapel in Brazil on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Pastors Phillip Badger and Mike Goss officiating. Burial will follow at Girton Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Visit www.lawson-millerchapel.com to light a candle in his memory.