Virgil W. Liberty and Margaret (Clark) Liberty, formerly of Moretown, Vermont, and Westfield, Massachusetts, both recently passed away. Virgil died on Sunday, January 11, 2015, and Margaret (Marge) passed away just 52 short days later on March 4, 2015. Virgil had celebrated his 100th birthday in September of 2014. He was born on September 21, 1914, in Southwick, Massachusetts, to the late Wilfred and Arabella (Holcomb) Liberty. Marge was born on August 13, 1925, to the late Harry Clark and Margaret (Kinsey) Clark in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
A resident of Westfield, Virgil graduated in 1933 from Westfield High School and Marge grew up in Springfield graduating from Commerce High School in 1943. Virgil was a corporal in the U. S. Army and a veteran of World War II receiving an honorable discharge in 1945. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at Columbia Manufacturing.
Both avid camera enthusiasts, he met Margaret Clark at a camera club meeting and they were married in 1947. They raised four children and enjoyed over 67 years together. In 1952, they purchased property in Moretown and while Virgil was building the house, Marge was making it a home. Each summer the family would live in Vermont while Virgil commuted back to Westfield each Sunday evening for work and returning each Friday. Employed by the city of Westfield in 1947, Virgil started as a ground crewman and worked in many positions over the years progressing to manager of the Westfield Gas and Electric Light Department until his retirement in 1977.
Marge lived most of her adult life in Westfield working part time in various positions including the Westfield Newspaper, city of Westfield credit union, police department and treasurer's department.
As active members of Southwick Congregational Church, Virgil served as the Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher. Virgil was a longstanding member of the Masons and also served as master of the Mount Moriah Lodge.
When he and Marge moved to Vermont for 20 years after his retirement they were both members of the church in Moretown. While living in Vermont, he was a member of the Mad River Lodge of Masons in Waitsfield.
Moving back to Westfield in 1997, he and Marge remained members of Southwick Congregational Church and also became members of Second Congregational Church in Westfield and they devoted much of their time volunteering for the Senior Transport Program through their church.
Through numerous volunteer activities, Marge served the AARP, Mad River Valley Senior Citizens, Moretown Methodist Church, Southwick Congregational Church, Homemakers Club, TOPS and was the treasurer for the Quilt Club in Moretown.
Virgil had a passion for woodworking and made hundreds of custom items which will be treasured by family and friends.
To Marge, life was home and family, always ready with a patient ear and a wonderful sense of humor. She was a talented and accomplished quilter often donating her handiwork to local charity events and she was also skilled at working with ceramics, designing, curing and decorating contemporary items including vases, bowls and figurines.
Both Virgil and Marge were familiar faces at the annual Christmas Bazaar offering their own beautifully handcrafted items. Virgil was still designing unique custom-made clocks and jewelry boxes well into his 90s.
Virgil was predeceased by brothers Richard and Donald, sister Phillis Duval, and Virgil and Margaret's grandchildren, Margaret and Ryan. They leave Margaret's brother, Franklin Clark of East Longmeadow; Virgil's sister, Charlotte LeBlanc of Westfield; their sons, Michael and his wife Gail of Fenton, Michigan, and David and his wife Susan of Westfield; daughter, Carolyn Pierce and husband Alan of Punta Gorda, Florida; and son, Roger and his wife Debbie of Westfield. They also leave 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends in both Westfield and Moretown.
The family would also like to thank the wonderful caring staff at Genesis Health Care Westfield Center.
A memorial service for Virgil was held at Southwick Congregational Church on Saturday, January 17, and Margaret's service is being held on Saturday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church as well. Virgil's ashes were interred at the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts, and Margaret's ashes will be interred with Virgil at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of choice.
