Virgil L. Stewardson

Virgil L. Stewardson, 90, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at home. Virgil was born in Santa Anna, TX to John and Willie B. (Scarbrough) Stewardson on October 1, 1925. He graduated from Santa Anna High School, enlisted in the Navy and went straight into WWII. He was assigned to the USS Custer, manning a landing craft. Virgil was honorably discharged in 1946 and worked for several car dealerships in San Angelo, San Saba and Abilene. He was recruited by Allstate Insurance to be a property and claims adjuster which he did until his retirement (over 30 years). After retirement he spent several years “storm trooping” for Allstate all over the country. Virgil was a Master Mason for over 60 years and a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ. He married Jackie Duncan in Coleman, TX on January 19, 1950. They were married and soul mates for over 64 years until her death in 2014. Virgil loved his 2 grandkids, spending several days a week with each child. He was always at every event they were involved in, no matter the weather. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, sister Velma Benton and wife Jackie. Virgil is survived by daughter Patti Jo Mendenhall and husband Craig of Abilene; granddaughter Megan Sunderman and grandson Matthew Mendenhall (fiancée Christina Johnson) all of Lubbock; great granddaughter Mackenzie Sunderman; brother Wayne Stewardson of Plainview; sister-in-law Deloroes Guice of Coleman; and several nieces and nephews. Private graveside service will be Saturday April 2nd at Elmwood Memorial Park with a memorial service at Southern Hills Church of Christ Chapel at 1:30 pm Saturday April 2nd with Bill Brant and Danny Minton officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. The family will be receiving friends from 5-7 pm Friday April 1st at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hope Fund at Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3364 Buffalo Gap Rd, Abilene, TX 79605; WTRC Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605 or Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607. The family would like to thank the wonderful team from Hospice of the Big Country that helped make Virgil’s last days comfortable and safe.