Pickens, SC - Coach Andrew "Andy" Joseph Virgil, 80, loving husband of 51 years, Elizabeth "Beth" Virgil, of Pickens, passed away Friday, September 29, 2023, at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Coach Virgil was born in Orange, New Jersey on November 24, 1942, to the late Louis and Josephine Szymanski Virgil. He graduated from Appalachian Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) with his Bachelor's in Science in 1964, then again with his Masters Degree in 1965. Coach Virgil then began his career teaching at Pickens High School where he coached the Blue Flame Football Team for 40 years, and taught for 35 years. During his tenure at Pickens, In 1969, the Pickens High School yearbook, "The Gem" was dedicated in his honor, and in 1970, he designed the Blue Flame Logo, that is still used today by Pickens.
Coach Virgil's notable coaching career also allowed him many opportunities to enrich the lives of not only many students at Pickens but to students throughout the state of South Carolina. He was invited to coach for the North/South Football Game in 2001, where he coached the offensive line. Coach Virgil's legacy has lived on throughout the Pickens High School community, and because of this, he was inducted into the Pickens High School Hall of Fame in 2001, and the weightlifting room at Pickens was named in his honor in 2021.
In addition to his loving wife of 51 years, Coach Virgil is survived by his daughter: Elizabeth M. Sloan (Harry); his grandchildren: Drew Virgil, Jackson Blythe, and Isabel Sloan; and a sister: Teresa Douglas.
In addition to his parents, Coach Virgil was preceded in death by his beloved daughter: Sarah Virgil; and a sister: Wilma Sideris.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pickens. Interment will follow the Mass at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
No formal visitation is planned, but the family welcomes you to greet them following the committal services on Wednesday at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
The family is at the residence.
Flowers are accepted, or the family requests that memorial donations be made to Miracle Hill Children's Ministry via their website at: https://miraclehill.org/give/
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
