Virgil Albert ‘VA’ Owens, 86

Graveside funeral services for Virgil Albert “VA” Owens, 86, of Gainesville, will be held at 1 p.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at the Gainesville Cemetery with Halbert Smith officiating. 

He died Nov. 19, at Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains. He was born on March 17, 1939, the son of Bee and Elva (Graves) Owens.

VA lived his entire life in Gainesville. He mainly worked as a handyman on farms and mowed yards. He was the caretaker of Centerpoint Cemetery and always attended Memorial Day services there. During his younger days, he enjoyed traveling by bus and seeing this wonderful country. He attended the Lilly Ridge Baptist Church. He was a humble Christian man who will be dearly missed.

He is survived by a sister, Mattie Liston of Sarah, Mississippi; a niece, Judy Johnson of Springfield; along with many cousins in the Ozark mountains.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bee and Elva Owens; and two older brothers, Miles and Rex Owens.

A small graveside service will be planned in the Gainesville Cemetery. The time will be added when it is finalized.

Contributions can be made to either Gainesville Cemetery or Centerpoint Cemetery; both have accounts at Century Bank of the Ozarks. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.