Dewey "Virgil" Glass

Virgil's family will greet guests from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 2, 2021 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama, followed by the 1 p.m. service at the funeral home's chapel. Burial will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham. Officiating ministers will be Pastors Ron Cox and Mark Sims from Virgil's long-time home church, Kingwood Church in Alabaster, Alabama.

Virgil was the third of five children of Forest and Vadie Glass. At age 15, he left the cotton mill town of Siluria, Alabama and went to work in the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

In 1943, he joined the Merchant Marines and went from busboy at the Captain's Table to being chief electrician. He travel worldwide, crossing the Atlantic Ocean 28 times to bring wounded soldiers of World War II from France to America. Each time Virgil returned to home in Alabama, his family, especially his youngest sibling Janice, were at the front door eagerly awaiting the gifts - including handmade dolls - he brought from many countries.

Virgil's military transportation chief wrote that he was "a vital part of the Army's marine transportation heritage and traditions. The modernization of our fleet of watercraft and our ocean-going vessels have the capability to meet logistics over-the-shore operations in any geographic location where necessary. These improvements were born out of experiences of members of the Army Transport Service like yourself."

Upon his honorable discharge from the military, Virgil worked for U.S. Steel in Birmingham for 60 years. He retired only because he had to at age 89.

Janice says, "Throughout childhood, the question ever loomed, 'When's Virgil coming home?' Now, to our family gone before us, look out, Virgil has arrived!"

Virgil was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Louise Alberson Glass; an infant daughter; one brother, Hermie C. Glass; and two sisters, Mavis Amy Sweeney and A. Faye Davis.

Survivors include Virgil's loving and caring wife, Sue Glass; one son, Greg, and his wife, Gina; step-son, Talon Noe, and his wife, Purity; one sister, Janice Glass Sparks; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Please share personal tributes at Virgil's page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com.