Virgil J. Benson

Virgil J. Benson, 81, of Hillsboro, IL, formerly of Du Quoin, passed away at 9:25 A.M., Thursday, December 11, 2003 at his residence.
Virgil was a retired miner operator for Consol Coal Company.  He was a member of First Christian Church in Du Quoin.  He was a member of UMW of A and a life member of Hillsboro VFW Post 1306.  He was a U.S. Army veteran of W.W. II, serving with the sixth armored division, where he received a purple heart.
He was born February 19, 1922 at Jasper, AL, the son of Albert Jackson and Gertrude C. (Guthrie) Benson.
He married Delores Fern Scruthfield on September 2, 1939 at Jackson, MO and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Hillsboro, three children - Gerrald Benson and wife Cheryl of Ardmore, OK, Judith C. Heiman of Nashville, IL, and Jeffrey Benson and wife Rebecca of Creve Coeur, MO, one daughter-in-law - Dorothy Benson of Ardmore, OK, seventeen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son - Ronald, two brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services were at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, December 14, 2003 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Dr. John Lewis officiating.
Friends called from 4 to 8 P.M., Saturday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Interment was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the American Cancer Society.
