Virgil Henry Dopson
Marriages
Phyllis Sjolseth - March 16, 1945
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - March 13, 2011
On March 9, 2011 Virgil Henry
Dopson made his final journey to
be with the Lord. He was 90 years
of age and had recently moved to
Family Health West in Fruita,
CO.
Born on his grandparent's farm
in Madison, Nebraska, he was the
only child of Floyd and Mathilda
Dopson (Petersen). His father
died due to complications suffered
from gas poisoning during
WWI when Virgil was only eight
years old. Virgil graduated from
Madison High School and moved
to Sioux Falls, South Dakota with
his mother. There he met the love
of his live, Phyllis Sjolseth, and
they were married on March 16,
1945. They were to celebrate their
66th wedding anniversary this
month.
Virgil worked a variety of jobs
in Sioux Falls before enlisting in
the Army Air Corps in 1942 during WWII. He was a waist gunner
on a B-24 Liberator affectionately named "The Birdie Schmidt", and
he flew in 31 missions with his crew over Germany. He was honorably
discharged as a Staff Sergeant and also served with the South
Dakota and Colorado National Guard. Entering civilian life again,
he worked as a department manager in men's clothing at Montgomery
Ward’s in Sioux Falls and then was transferred to Denver in
1954 where he worked until his retirement in 1987. He and his wife
moved to Grand Junction to be close to their daughter. He loved to
drive cars and became an employee at Avis Rentals for 17 years
when, at the age of 82, he developed macular degeneration and
could no longer shuttle cars over the mountains to Denver. He was
also a member of the American Lutheran Church and the Veterans
of Foreign War.
Virgil's quick wit and love for people endeared him to those who
knew him, and his kindness will always be remembered by his children
and grandchildren whom he loved very much. Because he lost
his father at such a young age, family was very important to him
Grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Phyllis Dopson; his
daughter, Pam (Dennis) Jorgensen of Grand Junction; his son, Greg
(Cheryl) Dopson of Kansas City, MO; five grandchildren, Jolene
and Luke Jorgensen of Denver; Casey and Carl Dopson and Cindy
Bradford of Kansas City, and five great grandchildren all of Kansas
City.
Services will be held Monday, March 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the
American Lutheran Church in Grand Junction. Burial with military
rites will take place in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Madison, Nebraska
on Saturday, March 19, preceded by services at the Immanuel
Lutheran Church.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful caregivers that Virgil
was blessed to have over the last year in his final journey home.
Each of you gave him much comfort. You know he would want to
say "thank you" if he could!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lutheran
Church in Grand Junction, the Hospice and Palliative Care of
Western Colorado, or to any Veterans organization that honors and
supports those who serve our country.
Callahan-Edfast is in charge of arrangements in Grand Junction.
