Virgil Case, 37

SFC Virgil Case, 37, of Mountain Home, died June 1, 2005, while serving his country in Kirkuk, Iraq.

A memorial service will be held at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel, at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 9.

Burial will be held in Shiprock, New Mexico.

Virgil was born Oct. 18, 1967, in Fort Meyers, Fla., and graduated from high school in Collinwood, Tenn.

He joined the Army in October 1986.

He met the love of his life, Claudia, and her two children, while they were in Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1989. They were wed in 1991 and were later blessed with two more daughters.

1991 was also the year that he joined the Army National Guard. During his life, he served 18 years in military service.

He took pride in working full time at the Mountain Home Army National Guard Armory and being a member of the 145th Support Battalion. He was called to serve in Fort Bliss, Texas, in June 2004, and from there deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, in December 2004.

He enjoyed being with his family, serving his country, hunting, fishing, and woodworking. His family noted that he was a "busy body," always working on various projects in his spare time.

"His smile, great sense of humor, and loyalty to his family and country endeared him to his community and his fellow soldiers. There is now a shadow across Mountain Home and Kirkuk, and he is greatly missed by all," his family said.

Virgil is survived by: his wife, Claudia; their children, Stevie, Randy, Danielle, and Harlee; sisters, Vivian and Vicki; his brothers, Frank and Randy, and his Uncle Ken.

He was preceded in death by his parents.