April 2, 1924 - Aug. 13, 2007
STARBUCK -- Virgil William Smith, 83, of Starbuck died Monday at the Steven's Community Medical Center in Morris.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck. Military rites will be provided by the Starbuck VFW Honor Guard.
Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
He was born April 2, 1924, in Mulkeytown, Ill. to Arthur and Dorothy Smith. His father died when he was about 10 years old. His mother later remarried. He joined the Army when he was 15 years old, having his mother sign for him. He was sent to England and was with the allied forces for the second wave of the Normandy invasion.
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After the war he was a radio announcer in many different cities and also worked as a television announcer for a station in Twin Falls, Idaho. He worked as a newspaper reporter. He also was in editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
He married Jane Summer Oct. 9, 1971. They lived on the St. Croix River. His wife died in 1976. He worked for the newspaper in Marine on the St. Croix. He and couple of friends bought a radio station in Sisseton, S.D.; which they ran for a short time. He lived in Fergus Falls Benson and then moved to Starbuck in 1988.
He had his private pilot license, and was the senior racecar driver in Alexandria; where he raced with the Star Motor Company in Starbuck.
He was survived by his step-children: Jessica Summers, H. Robert (and Heidi) Summers, David (and Sue) Summers and Christopher (and Corrine) Summers.
He was preceded in death by his wife and brother.
