Virgil Lee Higginson, 83, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia.
He was born July 25, 1925, in Mount Vernon, Ill., son of Charles Edward and Elsie Vivian Lowry Higginson.
He was inducted in the Army on Nov. 11, 1943, and served in WWII. He received numerous medals, including five Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Emblem, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Belgian Fourragere, and an Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. He was honorably discharged Dec. 9, 1945.
Survivors include three daughters, Terry McMahon of Sesser, Ill., Cathy Kedzuch of Brookfield, Ill., and Linda Tasler of Casper, Wyo.; and a sister, Maxine Shelton of Houston.
His body was cremated under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. His ashes will be inurned at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.
Online condolences may be made at www.evansfh.com.