Virgil Iverson

Virgil Iverson was born in Bellingham, Washington on April 17, 1934 and died Sept. 3, 2019. He grew up in the town of Snohomish and graduated from Seattle Pacific University and Bethel University School of Theology. He and his wife, Norma, lived the past 30 years on the Key Peninsula.

Virgil was pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church in Tacoma for seven years before joining the U.S. Army as a chaplain. He served in this capacity for 23 years and never met a soldier he did not love. He proudly served in many units throughout the world, including in Vietnam. Airborne training was one of his proudest accomplishments. After his retirement from the military he served as a prison chaplain for the State of Washington for 14 years.

In retirement, Virgil enjoyed four groups: Longbranch Community Church, Key Peninsula Veterans, Retired Military Chaplains and Longbranch Improvement Club. He believed that every person he encountered was sent to him by God.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Norma; sons Wade (Deb) and Bruce (Shelly); daughter Lori (Kent) and her son Paul (Missy) and daughter Lynn; by 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and by his brother Verlyn (Marian). All his grandchildren knew him as “Grandpa Sugar.”

A celebration of Virgil’s life will be held at the Longbranch Improvement Club Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow.