GUYSVILLE, Ohio – Virgil Harlan Bartlett, 89, of Guysville, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after an illness at home.
Virgil was born October 17, 1936, the son of the late William Doris Bartlett and Lottie Mae Bartlett (née Dailey).
Virgil married Nancy Marie Davis on December 31, 1956. They were married for 69 years until her death in January 2026, raising 5 children together. In his youth, he survived a bout with meningitis and being struck by lightning.
Virgil was born and raised on a farm, where he learned the value of hard work. He worked many places, including the Athens Flower Shop, Roger Dean Chevrolet, and Williams Drilling. He was a lifetime member of the Ironworkers’ Union, belonging to Ironworkers’ Local 787, Parkersburg, WV. He worked on several bridges and buildings in and around Columbus, Athens, Belpre, Parkersburg, and Marietta. Among the places he helped to build are: the Athens Mall, the University Mall, O’Bleness Memorial Hospital, the original Alexander High School, the Beacon School, and many Ohio University buildings, including the Convocation Center, the Aquatic Center, Bromley Hall, and Peden Stadium. He worked on most of the bridges and highways around Athens as well.
Virgil had a prodigious talent for fixing and repairing things (though not always in the usual manner). He put this talent to use at work by performing maintenance and repairs on several rental properties around Athens and Meigs County, and at home as well. Here are a few of his feats of redneck engineering: plugging a flat tire with an appropriately-sized stick (the tire was reinflated with a bicycle pump and the car was driven home); repairing broken windshield wipers by tying a shoestring around the wiper arms, allowing them to be operated by hand; using a pair of pantyhose to pop a ball joint back into place; and using a part from a Singer sewing machine to fix a window that wouldn’t roll up.
Virgil was known for his sense of humor. He enjoyed startling people, right until the end. The day before he passed, he turned off his oxygen tank so he could wait for someone to enter the room and yell “boo!” Few things got under his skin. Wrecking his car would only result in him saying “that’s what insurance is for,” but losing a hubcap was grounds for severe recrimination.
Above all, though, Virgil was a faithful and dedicated husband, father, and family man. He spent many years as Nancy’s personal chauffeur, always “getting the Jimmy” when she wanted him to. His grandchildren can all remember time spent with him in the woods, or watching his Westerns. Even as he became ill, his chief concern was taking care of Nancy.
He was a good, kind, and decent man. His entire life, he was a person who gave more than he received. To know him was our privilege. We were beyond fortunate to have had him as our father, grandfather, sibling and uncle.
We will love him forever, we will miss him forever.
Virgil is survived by his children, Jon & Carla Bartlett, Joni & Kevin McCune, Gene Bartlett, Jamie & Andrea Jo Bartlett and Shelley & Craig McClain; grandchildren, Jason McCune & Blake Williams, Roger & Ashley McCune, Jon Micheal Bartlett, Brittany & Mary Blair, Steven McClain & Brittany Clark, Kayla & Shane Stroh, Alex & Sammie Bartlett, Jamie & Lauren Bartlett and Dalton Bartlett; great grandchildren, Alyssa and Kyle Howard, Wyatt McCune, Colton McCune, Rylee McCune, Gage Bartlett, Beau Bartlett, Lane Bartlett, Reid Blair, Waylon Bartlett, Willie Bartlett and Greyson McCune; great-great granddaughter, Eleanor Howard; siblings, Delmar & Mildred Bartlett (deceased), Roberta & Gerald Buckley (deceased), Charlotte Stephenson (deceased), Bernard & Doris Bartlett (deceased), Glenn & Norma Bartlett (deceased), Wayne & Chris Bartlett (deceased), Richard & Edna Bartlett (deceased), and Carol & Bob (deceased) Congrove; sister in law and brother in law, Linda & Paul (deceased) Cunningham, and Dwight & Judy Davis; nieces and nephews, Nancy Pruitt (deceased), Joyce LaRochelle (deceased), David Bartlett, Charlotte Altmaier (deceased), Connie Kincaid, Bill Buckley, Linda Wells, Ronnie Stephenson (deceased), Janet Smith (deceased), Beverly Skidmore, Dan Bartlett, Glenna McReynolds (deceased), Kenny Bartlett, Sherry Bartlett, Charles Richard Bartlett (deceased), Sue Jago, Anita Bartlett, Tony Congrove, Lisa Johnson, Diana Boyer, Denise Cunningham, Sandy Pugh, Gary Cunningham, Karen Cunningham (deceased), Danny Cunningham, Tony Davis, Greg Davis, and Tammy Dilley.
In addition, Nancy and Virgil served as foster parents for many years, opening their homes to many children.
We would also like to thank Jeanne Auflick-Lucas for her unwavering support, care, and love for Dad and Grandpa over the last several months. There are no words to describe our appreciation. She is part of our family. Special thanks also to Tony and Kenny for taking the time to visit and keep him company, and for their moral support; special thanks to Melissa Schulz and the OhioHealth Hospice team.
Funeral service will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens with Pastor Frank Merrill officiating. Burial will be in Graham’s Chapel Cemetery, Lodi Township. Friends may call Saturday from 11 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
