VIRGIE ADA BIRT

EAST MILLINOCKET – Virgie Ada Birt, 89, wife of the late Harold Earl Birt Sr., died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, at a Millinocket health care facility. She was born Jan. 17, 1920, in Augusta, the daughter of Clifford H.M. and Gladys V.G. (Boynton) Perry. Virgie grew up in Millinocket and was a graduate of Stearns High School, Class of 1937. She also attended Eastern Maine General Hospital, where she received training to become a registered nurse. After working there for nearly a year, she and several childhood friends signed up for the Army during the onset of World War II. She served for two years in Australia, and then returned stateside to Cushion Military Hospital in Massachusetts. After she was discharged from the Army, she enrolled at Boston University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education, graduating in 1949. Upon completing her education, she returned to Millinocket and on Jan. 30, 1950, was united in marriage with Harold E. Birt of East Millinocket. Virgie and Harold built their home in East Millinocket and raised their family there. She began teaching at Opal Myrick School, East Millinocket, after her own children were in school and taught there her entire career, retiring in the early 1980s. Virgie was a life member of the Eastern Star. She also was a member of First Congregational Church of East Millinocket, where she was active with the Women’s Fellowship Group. She is survived by two sons, Harold E. Birt Jr. and his wife, Brenda, of East Millinocket and Arthur P. Birt and his wife, Carla, of Cumberland; a daughter, Diane M. Brown and her husband, Dana, of Charlotte; 10 grandchildren, Dawn Mary Birt, Carl Perry Birt, Christopher Virgil Birt, Lynda Diane Birt, Justin Perry Birt, Adam Lucas Birt, Derek Allen Brown and his wife, Bobbie Jo, Branden Birt Brown and his wife, Ann, Jeremy Owen Brown and his wife, Jessica, and Erin Lea (Brown) and her husband, William Peasley, III; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Jacqueline Avis Steeves of Millinocket; a brother-in-law, Daniel Birt and his wife, Pauline, of East Millinocket; a sister-in-law, Catherine M. Leavitt of Eddington; a special niece, Virgie McPheters of Millinocket; a special cousin, Eva Smith of Readfield; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She will also be missed by special friends, Emma Haskell and Billie Jo Hunter. In addition to her husband, Virgie was predeceased by a sister, Chrystal Birt. Friends are invited to visit with the family 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Lamson Funeral Home, 17 Western Ave., East Millinocket. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at First Congregational Church of East Millinocket with Pastor Dottie Hutch officiating. Interment will be at East Millinocket Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Virgie may be sent to First Congregational Church of East Millinocket, 11 Maple St., East Millinocket, ME 04430. Messages of condolence may be expressed at www.lamsonfh.com.