Virgil V. Bowhay, 81, Seneca, died Friday, November 20, 1992 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Nov. 14 after suffering an apparent heart attack at the Seneca coffee shop. 

 

He was born April 17, 1911, on a farm near Centralia, the son of Floyd and Ethel Kirk Bowhay. Later the family moved to a farm near Axtell, where he attended a rural school and Axtell High School. 

He farmed in the Axtell, Soldier and Seneca communities. He also had livestock and a dairy. From 1965 to 1973 he operated Virgil’s Derby Station in Seneca. In 1972 he moved into Seneca, and continued to work part-time at several service stations. 

He married Eileen Waters May 6, 1936, at St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. She died May 13, 1937. He married Dora Kuckelman Nov. 30, 1939, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. She died Nov. 22, 1981. He was also preceded in death by a son, Joseph, who died at birth in 1946, and two grandchildren, Kenneth Bowhay on Nov. 14, 1960, and Mary Ann Olberding on Sept. 27, 1973. 

He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and of St. Joseph’s Society at the church. 

Survivors are four sons, Jack Bowhay, Kansas City, Mo., Bob Bowhay, DuBois, Neb., Jim Bowhay, Netawaka, Ed Bowhay Mayetta; five daughters, Mrs. Quentin (Virginia) Mitchell, Berryton, Mrs. Ken (Mary) Boeckman and Mrs. Albert (Betty) Olberding, Jr., both of Seneca, Mrs. Jim (Arminda) Feldkamp, Centralia, Mrs. Dennis (Margie) Miller, Frankfort; a sister, Arminda Drew, Wilder, Idaho; 34 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.