Virgil Joseph Toupin

Virgil Joseph Toupin loved life and lived it to the fullest! An expressive individual, he was eternally happy, willing to share that joy with those whose lives he touched. For Virgil, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile or a witty remark. These simple gestures endured him to all he met. Virgil mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so; from brewing beer with his squadron buddies, to learning to cook spaghetti sauce from his Italian friend Luigi, to building a house boat for weekend family cruises along Lake Travis.

Virgil was born on March 31, 1932 at St. Joseph Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was raised in Cherry Valley, Massachusetts. He later settled in Hill, New Hampshire with his parents Elzeor Toupin and Rita (Bouley) Toupin, As a child, Virgil had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly, easy going and fun loving. Virgil was the eldest of five children, his siblings include brothers, Ronald, David, Gary, and sister, Kathy.

Virgil was a good-humored child with an outgoing personality and a lively imagination. He had a natural talent for sports and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and opportunities it presented. He was known to excel beyond expectations, pushing himself to “give it everything you got” for the pleasure of knowing he played well, and winning the game. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, swimming, golfing, bowling, snorkeling and diving.

Virgil attended his freshman and sophomore years of High School at Leicester High, Leicester Massachusetts where he was on the football, basketball, track and baseball teams. He was a member of the Glee Club and was the President of the freshman class. He spent his junior and senior years at Franklin High School, Franklin New Hampshire and was a member of the Glee Club, the Double Quartet and the Varsity Football team. He was also on the basketball and baseball teams and was involved in the student government. Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you, Virgil enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. Franklin High is also where Virgil met the love of his life, Yvette Trachy. They became school sweethearts and would soon become husband and wife. Virgil graduated from Franklin High School in Franklin, New Hampshire in 1951.

On February 2, 1952 Virgil exchanged wedding vows with Yvette Jacqueline Trachy at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Franklin, New Hampshire. During their 60 years of marriage they made many caring and tender memories sharing love and life. Together they were blessed with five children, two daughters, Lynne and Diana and three sons, Michael, Scott and Mark, fourteen grandchildren; Jason, Jacqueline, Jaime, Christina, Stevie, Travis, Donavan, Phillipe, Brandon, Jordan, Annie, Joey, Nicolas and 14 great grandchildren with a blessed one on the way. Virgil enjoyed his time with the grandchildren. He could make them laugh and smile all day when he spoke in his Donald Duck voice. He also loved to entertain them by making up funny rhymes.

At work, as in life, Virgil was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Virgil was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Virgil's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Virgil as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was the United States Air Force where he served for 20 years as an Air Traffic Controller. During his military service, Virgil was based from 1951-1952 at Keesler AFB, Mississippi; 1952-1953 at Sidi Slimine AFB, French Morocco; 1953-1958 at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; 1958-1962 at Mildenhall AFB, England; 1962-1963 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and 1963-1972 at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, where he and his family finally settled. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and received several awards, including 2 medals of Merit. Additionally, during the administration of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, he had the honor and privilege to serve as an Air Traffic Controller and received the Air Force Commendation for Professional Skills, Leadership, and Personal Endeavor while assigned to the Texas White House. After retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1972, Virgil became part owner of Austin Centex Electronics. He later joined Sentinel American Life Insurance Company as a sales representative and achieved membership in their Millionaires Club for seven years.

Virgil never met a stranger. People were drawn to his gregarious and outgoing personality. These qualities allowed Virgil to continually develop new relationships and an ever widening circle of friends. Whether it was a story, joke or song, Virgil was always right at home entertaining. Virgil utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them and as a result gained valuable friendships throughout his lifetime. Good friends like Kenneth Kolen, George Rivard, CP and Juanita Whitely, Barbara and Carl Dringenberg, Mary and Jack Geise, Romey and Roland Struthers enjoyed sharing life moments and cherished memories with Virgil and his family.

Virgil enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were golfing, hunting, deep-sea fishing, camping and dancing and he enjoyed sharing these interests with others. He especially enjoyed dancing with his true love, Yvette. He was such a talented dancer; his High School Yearbook stated “His very foot has music in it.” He also was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan as well as a die-hard Longhorn fan. Virgil had an appetite for new and varying activities. It is no surprise that he loved to travel to new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. Favorite vacations included a month exploring Europe, annual trips to the Gulf of Mexico and several cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean Sea. Most notable were his spiritual pilgrimages to Mexico, Jerusalem, Venezuela, and Medjugorje in Eastern Europe. Later in life, both he and Yvette would spend their summers in Groton, New Hampshire and winters in Sarasota, Florida before moving to Sun City in Georgetown, Texas in 2001.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Virgil recognized that his Catholic faith was important to him throughout his life. As a young boy, he served the church as an Altar Boy, later in life; he served as a Lector, a Eucharist Minister and a Mass coordinator. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Virgil was valued by the service organizations to which he belonged. Most notably, he was a member of several Catholic parishes in the Austin area, including, St. Peters the Apostle, St. Ignatius Martyr, St. Catherine of Sienna and St Helens, where he served as a Knights of Columbus, 4th degree.

Virgil passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at home in Austin, Texas, peacefully, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Yvette Toupin; children, Lynne Kincaid, Michael Toupin and wife, Mary Jo, Scott Toupin and wife Mamie, Diana Harrell and husband, Terry, and Mark Toupin and wife, Wendy; grandchildren, Jason Dimitt and wife Brittni, Jacqueline and husband Jason Sutton, Jaime and husband Stacey Darland, Christina, Stevie and Husband Joey Duncan, Travis, Donavan, Phillipe, Brandon, Jordan, Annie, Joey, Nicolas, and great-grandchildren; Jacob Ryan, Kylee, Chloe, Joey, Jordan, Christian, Brittini, Zoe, Sebastian, Jonah, Dylan, Wyatt, Rylie, and a blessed one on the way.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Celebration will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Road, with Father Oliver Johnson, Celebrant. Committal Services with Full Military Honors will be at 1:45 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2012 at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

For those desiring, contributions may be made in Virgil’s memory to Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas, 78759, (800)445-3261, www.hospiceaustin.org.

Virgil touched many lives and he brought joy and happiness to all. He loved to have a good time and to share with his family and friends his energy, wit and zest for life. Virgil Joseph Toupin lived life to its fullest and everyone around him experienced that joy and was happier just for knowing him. He will be dearly missed, always remembered and forever loved.