Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather, Virgil Sturgeon, age 94, from Greensboro N.C., passed away peacefully at Beacon Place Hospice Care Facility in Greensboro, N.C., on May 20, 2026.

Virgil was born in Sac City, IA, on October 13, 1931. He was the son of the late Arnold Curtis Sturgeon and the late Marion Rose Carpenter Sturgeon. Virgil worked for many years in the telecommunications industry beginning with spending many stormy nights climbing telephone poles to restore phone service to residents. He participated in the installation of the first digital chips in switching stations in Northern Virginia and supervised the installation of secure phone systems for the CIA and other highly sensitive government facilities. He also worked in the early development of satellite communications.

During his leisure hours, Virgil loved to spend time with family and friends. He and his wife Janet loved to travel. He also loved fishing and gardening. He was a poet and later in life published a book that has many wonderful poems. He also wrote some songs, and one of them is performed regularly at his North Carolina residence, Heritage Greens, where he has many friends. In addition to his parents, Virgil was preceded in death by his loving wife of 69 years, Janet Polk Sturgeon, his brothers Larry Sturgeon, Paul Sturgeon, and sister Marlene Smith.

He is survived by his children Lonny Sturgeon and wife Amanda of Greensboro, N.C., and Trina Sturgeon Corbin and husband Michael of Staunton, VA, His grandchildren include Robert B. Johnston Jr. (Becky) of Ocala FL, Kyle Sturgeon (Lauren) of Charlottesville, VA, Rose McLaughlin (Chris) of Hardy, VA, Megan Holder (Matt) of Greensboro, N.C., and Lindsey Werner of Staunton, VA, Great Grandchildren include Bobby Johnston, Micaiah Johnston, Henna Johnston, Nina Johnston, Kayla Bennett, Emma Bennett, Ahleina McLaughlin, Werner McLaughlin, Ethan Holder, William Kellison, Garrett Holder, and Benjamin Sturgeon, and Great-Great Grandchildren, Edward Johnston, Charlotte (Lottie) Johnston and Kenzo Brown; He is also survived by a sister, Sharon Calahan, of Lebanon, OR, and brother Chuck Lawton of Yuba City, CA, sister in laws - Dorothy Sites of Hagerstown, MD, and Anne Sturgeon of Fayetteville, AR, and 3 brothers in law Jerry Polk of Orlando, FL, Richard Lam of Fort Valley, VA, and Alvin Funkhouser of Strasburg, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews, and special friend Rachel Gregson of Greensboro, N.C.

A funeral service for Mr. Sturgeon will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Howard officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Heritage Greens in Greensboro, AuthoraCare Collective, and Options Home Care for the compassionate care that he received.

The family asks that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to AuthoraCare Collective, 2504 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, N.C. 27405 or Strasburg Presbyterian Church, 325 S Holliday St., Strasburg, VA 22657.

You may submit your condolences online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is honored to serve the family of Mr. Virgil Sturgeon.