Virgil Lee Statler, 80, a native of Farmington, W.Va., and a longtime resident of Fairhope, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 at his hunting camp.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 101st Air Borne. While serving his country he guarded Gen. George Marshall. He was the first Metro Police officer in Nashville, Tenn.
A few of his many career experiences in marine salvage were working at the Browns-Ferry Nuclear Plant, the diving contract for sinking the tubes in the George Wallace tunnel. He was the president of Offshore Inc. for 20 years and raised many bridges and sunken vessels.
He was a charter member of KOER Mardi Gras Society, and served as head Marshall. He was also a charter board member of the Rileigh and Raylee Angel Ride Foundation, in which he was very instrumental in its inception.
He loved life, adventure and his family.
He was preceded in death by hisparents, Kermit and Georgie Statler; and two brothers, Ricky and Jim Statler.
Survivors include wife, Michele Corte Statler of Fairhope; son, Richard Lee (Teresa) Statler of Springfield, Tenn.; two daughters, Teresa (Jim) Throckmorton of Leawood, Kan., and Carissa (Chris) Cumbie of Fairhope; grandchilden, Leslie, Lauren, Catherine, Keith, Lucas, Ada, Ari, Raylee and Christian; six great-grandchildren; sister, Lou Springer of Fairhope; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation begins at 10 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Belforest Catholic Cemetery.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Rileigh and Raylee Angle Ride Foundation, P. O. Box 209, Montrose, AL 36559 or Muscular Dystrophy Association, 700 Century Park Suite #129, Birmingham, AL 35226 (secure.mdausa.org/donate).
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
