Virgil Bennett Miles, age 84, of Florence, died Monday, June 8, 2015. Virgil was born February 8, 1931 in Florence, Ala. to Rachel and John Henry Miles. He graduated from Mars Hill Bible School. In 1954 he married Mertice Phillips of Tuscumbia, Ala. Virgil enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 19. He served his country as a Sergeant on the front lines with many others during the Korean War. Military honors include: Korean Service, National Defense, Efficiency, Honor, and Fidelity. Virgil contributed to the Disabled Veterans Fund for many years. In addition to his military service, Virgil worked for Reynolds Metals Company for thirty-nine years. He was an active member of Cross Point church of Christ and shared his love of God with members of the family and friends. Virgil loved coon, turkey, quail, dove and deer hunting. He and Key Underwood were special friends as they hunted together. He enjoyed birds and for years raised and sold Guineas. He built and erected bird boxes on his property and his pride and joy was the many hummingbirds he fed. He also loved feeding blue birds, turkey, deer, coon dogs, bird dogs, and squirrel dogs. He became a guide at Doublehead Resort & Lodge for quail hunters. In recent years he was a guide for tourist at the Coon Dog Cemetery where two of his dogs are buried. Virgil was the “Point Man” for the family and a wonderful granddaddy and great-granddaddy. He spent the last year of his life battling Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Cancer. Virgil was a man whose life truly was centered around God, family, and country.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Cross Point church of Christ with the funeral service following at 4 p.m. Officiating will be Frank Mills. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Military funeral honors will be accorded at graveside.
Mr. Miles was preceded in death by his parents; two infant daughters; brothers, Owen, Henry Daniel “Sonny”; sister, Ruth Sewell.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mertice; sons, Marlon Bennett Miles and wife Sharla, Phillip Benson Miles and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Kayla Darby and husband Casey, Brennan Lee Miles and wife Jessica, Jacob Owsley Miles; great-grandchildren, Jack Bennett, Case Tucker Darby, Owen Luke Miles; brother, Clifford Miles; sisters, Beulah Canerday, and Neva Chandler.
Active pallbearers include: Dr. Gerald Freeman, Larry McGee, Brennan Miles, Mark Miles, Casey Darby, and Art Cordeiro.
Honorary pallbearers include: Dr. Raymond Isbell, Dr. Robert Mann, Owen Lewis, Bobby Jones, Sonny Pollock, David Westmoreland, Thomas and David Phillips, Al Jackson, Buddy Kelley, Lowell Guthrie, and the Cross Point Shepherds and Carpenter Brothers.
The family expresses their special thanks and love to Kim Spears, Paula Fuller, Doctors Robert Mann and Felix Morris, and Alacare Hospice, who provided exceptional care and concern for Virgil throughout his illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cross Point Missions Fund and Disabled Veterans Fund.
