Virgil Lispkington Noonkester

Virgil Lispkington Noonkester ABINGDON, Va. Virgil Lispkington Noonkester, 98, died Sept. 17, 2010, in Johnston Me morial Hospital in Abingdon. Born in Washington County, Va.,on July 7, 1912, Virgil was the son of the late John Michael Noonkester and Nannie Jackson Noonkester. He lived all of his adult years in Washington County but lived part of his childhood in Ola, Ark., and in 1924 came from Arkansas to Virginia in a covered wagon when he was 11 years old. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Pauline Hawkins Noonkester; great-grandson, Jesse Dalton Sowards; brother, Bryan "Jack " Noonkester; sisters, Mary Lee Noonkester Gore and Kathleen Noonkester Cumbow; and also siblings who died as children, Ernest, Roosevelt, Virginia, John, and Lou Turner Noonkester. Virgil was a retired milk hauler for the Pet Milk Plant in Abingdon. He was a member of the Abingdon Masonic Lodge No. 48 for 76 years and was a longtime member of Pleasant View United Methodist Church (formerly Bakers Chapel), having joined in about 1931. He is survived by two sons, Mike Noonkester of Clayton, N.C., Ron Noonkester and wife, Della, of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Carol Noonkester and husband, Jimmy Nelson, of Mooresville, N.C.; granddaughter, Amy Noonkester Sowards and husband, Kelly, of Concord, NC; great-granddaughter Shianne Sowards of Concord, N.C.; sister-in-law, Dorothy Scyphers; several nieces and nephews; numerous friends on the Creeper Trail and at the Coomes Center; and Barbara Owens, who, with her late husband, Bill, was a special friend and neighbor. The funeral service will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at Pleasant View United Methodist Church with Dr. Ralph Kidd, Dr. Nelson Woody, and the Rev. Barbara Farmer officiating. Abingdon Masonic Lodge No. 48 will conduct the Masonic service. The family will receive friends at the church from 6 p.m. until the time of the service. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at 9 a.m. at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant View United Methodist Church, Missions Committee, 18415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com Arrangements for Mr. Noonkester are under the care of Farris Funeral St., Abingdon, VA, 276-623-2700.