Virgil Guy Arbogast

Virgil Guy Arbogast was born May 5, 1928 in Beverly, West Virginia to Lilly Blanche (Taylor) Arbogast and Mason Clark Arbogast. He was one of seven children: Iva "Ivy", Clarence, Willis, Kathleen, Lawrence, Virgil "Dick" and Elijah. Virgil's parents couldn't agree on what to name him. One parent wanted Virgil, the other wanted Richard, so they named him Virgil and called him Dick. To his family, his wife and his close friends, he was Dick, but to everyone else he was Virgil or Virg. Life wasn't easy in the hills of West Virginia, especially during the Depression, but somehow they survived and Virgil grew up with a strong work ethic which he followed his entire life.

In 1946, at the age of 18, Virgil enlisted in the Army and in 1948 he was Honorably Discharged. Shortly after, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he met the love of his life, Mona Geraldean "Gerry" Osborne. He and his brother were attending church and she and her sister were singing. The moment he saw her, he knew he'd marry her. She was 16 and he was 22. On July 13, 1952, Gerry turned 18 and ten days later they eloped. Her family said the marriage wouldn't last 6 months, but 72 years later they were still married and she was still the love of his life.

On July 29, 1953, Virgil and Mona had their first child Twilla Rhena Arbogast (Lundeen) and on November 13, 1957 their second, Virgil Guy Arbogast Jr. 

In 1962, Virgil took his family and moved to San Pedro, California. He worked for Continental Can Company until he was laid off. He then went to work for Monsanto where he stayed for 29 years until the plant closed down and at 63 years old he was forced to retire. Being the kind of person he was, he decided to find another job and went to work for the Catalina Cruises as a Deckhand. He loved his job, getting to meet and talk with so many different kinds of people. He worked for Catalina Cruises until the company was bought out and the new owners decided he was too old at 75 to be a Deckhand, and so he retired for good. He then moved to Palm Springs where he and his wife spent the next 12 years raising their grandson Shane.

Music was such an important part of Virgil's life. Although he couldn't read music, he played the guitar and sang harmony like a pro. At any given moment he'd burst out in song and his family would follow singing in 4-part harmony. 

Virgil and his family were very involved in church. They attended whenever there was a service. Virgil was a song leader and his daughter the pianist. They sang as a family visiting other churches and sharing their music and ministry. Their home was an oasis for the many young people in the church and Virgil had a very special rapport with them.

In 2014 Virgil and Mona moved back to San Pedro where they lived until Virgil's death on October 14, 2024. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sisters, some nieces and nephews, his son Virgil Guy Arbogast Jr. and his grandson, Kristopher David Lundeen. He is survived by his wife, Mona Geraldean "Gerry" (Osborne) Arbogast; his daughter Twilla Rhena (Arbogast) Lundeen; his grandchildren, Joseph Lundeen, Aria Lundeen, Shane Arbogast, Mark Arbogast; 7 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.