Virgle Leonard Smith Jr.

Memorial service for Virgle L. Smith, Jr. will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, 2019, at First United Methodist Church, with Dr. Ray Crawford officiating.  Virgle passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2019.  He was 70.

Virgle was born on March 3, 1949, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Virgle Smith and Mary Lee (Searle) Smith. He attended school in Skiatook, where he participated in all sports and was an honor student.  He graduated with the class of 1967.  He continued his education first at OSU for one year, enrolling the next fall at the University of Tulsa.  This was a surprise to his parents, and they told him he would have to work to pay the difference between public and private tuition. While in college he worked at Consolidated Freight on the loading docks, as well as a number of different Tulsa restaurants.  He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity while at the University of Tulsa and held the position of president.  He made many lifelong friends as a result of this association.

Virgle graduated from the University of Tulsa with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations and soon after took a job at the Houston Post.  While there he met Suzanne, who lived in the same apartment complex, and the two married on September 1, 1973.  They continued to live in Houston for a year before moving to Oklahoma and settling in Skiatook, which was somewhat of an adjustment for a city girl.  Virgle worked once again for Consolidated Freight, but this time in management.  He also worked in sales for a pharmaceutical company and a cement company before working for United Video.  Later he worked at RSU as General Manager of their television studio.  While at RSU, Virgle announced ballgames across Rogers County through Rogers County Sports Review along with Dave Wilber and Jim Perry.  In 1997 he and Suzanne purchased the Daylight Donut Shop in Oologah and later in 2001 opened a Subway Sandwich shop inside it.  They were so successful in their new adventure that they later opened two more Subways in Owasso.

When Virgle wasn't hard at work, he enjoyed spending time on the lake.  He loved taking his children and later grandchildren boating.  He coached Optimist Basketball and little league baseball and made sure he was at each of his kids’ activities.  He was a big sports fan and loved watching OU, OSU, and TU play football, of course OU was his favorite.  He knew just about everyone in Rogers County, and he loved visiting with folks, often telling them one of his funny stories.

Virgle was preceded in death by his parents, Virgle and Mary Lee.  Those family members that survive him include his wife Suzanne of the home; his children John Smith of Claremore, Lindsay Smith and wife Brooke of Tulsa, and Kimberly Slagle and husband Corey of Oklahoma City; his grandchildren Chase Smith and wife Bekah, Nicholas Smith, Ainsley Smith, Marin Smith, Emma Slagle, Sophie Slagle and Conner Slagle and great-grandson Gabriel Smith; his sister Suzanne Shepherd and husband Michael of Tulsa, and many nieces, nephews and cousins and friends.

Those who wish to honor Virgle's memory with a memorial contribution may do so by contributing to Upward Sports, c/o First United Methodist Church, 1615 North Highway 88, Claremore, Oklahoma  74017.