Graveside services for Joseph Lutz Virden, Jr., age 87, of Greenville, Mississippi will be at 2:30 pm at the Greenville Cemetery on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. He died at home on Monday, May 22, 2023. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
“Joe, Jr.” was born on March 22, 1936, in Greenville to Joseph Lutz Virden and Martha Weathers Virden. He attended St. Joseph High School and was later inducted into the St. Joe Sports Hall of Fame. After high school, Joe graduated from Georgetown University, and as a young man, he served in the United States Army as a second lieutenant. Afterwards, he settled in his native Mississippi delta to rear his family, where he owned and operated Delta Building Materials Lumber Co. for many decades.
Joe was well known for his hospitality to friends and family, his culinary skills and hunting escapades. He was an accomplished pilot, scuba diver, snow skier, marksman, gardener, and in his later years, a talented wood craftsman. Most of all, he was devoted to his family and his church, St. Joseph Catholic Church. For decades, Joe, who served the church as a Eucharistic Minister, rarely missed a service and made frequent visits to members of the community who could not themselves attend church services. Joe was also a regular volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul.
Joe is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and his 6 children who loved him dearly: Joe L. Virden III (Dixie), Greg W. Virden (Jenny), Mark L. Virden (Cathy), Patrick B. Virden (who are survived by their mother, Sherry Smith Tietjens), Katie Virden Johnston (Ky) and Daniel R. Virden (Chelsea) (who are survived by their mother, Gloria Reed Virden). Joe also leaves 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Vincent de Paul.