VERGIL "SMOKEY" WENTWORTH (1920 - 2005)

WENTWORTH, COMSTOCK, BEEGHLEY, BENTON, WARD, MERCER, STIENEKE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/13/2020 at 10:38:56

Vergil "Smokey" Wentworth, 84, of Cherokee died Saturday, October 15, 2005 in Austin, Texas due to head injuries received in a fall.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Brent Lawrey will officiate.

Vergil was born December 4, 1920 in Cherokee County to William and Evelyn (Comstock) Wentworth. He attended school in Cherokee. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served on P.T. Boats as a Radioman. He was discharged in 1947 and returned to Cherokee. He was married to Betty Beeghley of Aurelia on March 27, 1948 at South Sioux City, Neb. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for a short time. He then worked for the Cherokee Daily Times as the printing press operator for 35 years. He was ordained as minister of the Jehovah Witnesses in 1955 and served as an Elder. He had a country western band in the 1950's and played on radio stations KCHE and KAYL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, Carol Kay Wentworth and a sister Marjean Benton and two brothers Ted and Charles Wentworth.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; one daughter and 3 sons: Sandra Ward and her husband David of Cherokee; Mike Wentworth and his wife Trish of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jerry Wentworth of Leander, Texas; Dennis Wentworth of Austin, Texs; 4 granddaughters: Amy Mercer of Cherokee; Ginnie Wentworth of San Diego, Calif.; Jessica and Megan Wentworth of Cheyenne, Wyo.; 4 great grandchildren: Dustin & Brittany Stieneke of Cherokee and Ashley and Caylie Mercer of Cherokee.

Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society Scrapbook. Obituary dated 10-27-2005.