Pleasant Hill

Born in August, almost two years after the Great Depression, Virgil Gene Valentine was born in Miami AZ. In high school he sang, was in school plays, and lettered in football, baseball, and tennis.

After high school, he applied to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point because he would get a free education in exchange for serving in the Navy six years.

In the middle of attending the academy, hemet and married Anita Todd in January 1955.

They moved to California, where Virgil spent long days and long hours in San Francisco waiting for union jobs, and would grab any job he could. He traveled the world on food carriers. As time passed, he moved to oil carriers and eventually was promoted to captain. He also did his own piloting to get extra money.

He retired in 1995, and was almost immediately bored.

He decided to volunteer at the Oakland Temple for the LDS Church.

Virgil is survived by his wife of 70 years, with five children, 17 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.