Virgil Anthony William Bartels Jr.

Virgil Anthony William Bartels Jr., 75, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. Anthony was born on February 10, 1941, to the late Virgil Anthony William and Hedwig Groner Bartels, of Germantown, Missouri. He attended Montrose High School, graduated from Rockhurst University in 1963, and finished the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1967. He practiced law in Jonesboro and found his niche in Social Security Disability Law. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, a Lifetime Fourth Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, and a long-time board member of Abilities Unlimited. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Beverly Walker Bartels; one daughter, Stephanie (Greg) Wallace of Raleigh, North Carolina; two sons, Dr. Virgil Anthony William Bartels, III (Martha), and Dr. Troy Dryden Bartels (Brigitte) of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren, Hannah and Sam Wallace, Virgil Anthony William IV, Walker, Caroline, Dryden, Grant, and Matthew Bartels. He is also survived by three sisters, Monica Bartels of Jonesboro, Virgilene (Roger) Cook of Clinton, Missouri; and Sandy John) Chappell of Sedalia, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ronald Virgil Bartels. A Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of life will be Friday, June 10, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Father Alphonse Gollapalli, and Father Samy Madhichetty officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, June 9, 2016 from 5 -7 p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel with a Rosary starting at 7 p.m. with Father Jack Vu. For lasting memorials, the family requests donations be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 1105 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, Ark. 72401 or Abilities Unlimited, 2725 N. Church St., Jonesboro, Ark. 72401. Online registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com.