Virgil Ellis Barr

Virgil Ellis Barr, 92, of Mount Pleasant passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Henry County Health Center.

Virgil was born on December 12, 1933, in Mount Pleasant the son of Earl Paxton and Opal Verlee (Nihart) Barr.  He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and later attended Indian Hills Community College receiving a degree in welding.  Virgil served in the Iowa National Guard.

Virgil married Barb Carver; they later divorced. Virgil was then united in marriage to Linda Jacobs on May 10, 1975.  He worked at Iowa Southern, the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, J. I. Case Manufacturing in Burlington and later for the Mount Pleasant Corrections Facility in Mount Pleasant and was later transferred to Newton from which he retired. Virgil was a member of the Mount Pleasant Open Bible Church where he served as a deacon for several years.  He enjoyed weightlifting, boxing and his motorcycles.   Virgil never knew a stranger.

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his wife, Linda, of 50 years, his sons, Chris (Becky) Barr, of Mount Pleasant, Lanny Barr, of Farmington, and Micky Barr, of New London, his daughter, Vanessa Wagner, of Salem, his 10 grandchildren and several great grandchildren, his sister, Joyce Young of Mount Pleasant and two step-sisters, Donna Fillinger, of Mount Pleasant and Joy Gilleard, of Mount Pleasant and a step-brother, Tom Guinn, of  Arizona.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Wally Barr and one sister, Verlee Van Amerongon.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant with Pastor Gordon Hawkins officiating.  Burial will follow in the Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant.  Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Murphy Funeral Home where the family will be present from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening.  Memorials may be directed to the Mount Pleasant Open Bible Church.  

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Virgil.

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