Vergil Vant

Vergil Arthur Vant, 76 of Bremerton, died with his wife Leona and daughter Wendy, in a train accident in Bourbonnais, Illinois on March 15, 1999.  He was born November 21, 1922 in Casper, Wyoming to Floyd R. and Ethel M. (Galutia) Vant.  He moved from Casper to Auburn, Washington in  1930 and then to Bremerton in 1939.  Vergil graduated from Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale in 1942.  He married Leona P. Pygott on February 26, 1944 in Bremerton.Mr. Vant served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 as a Tank Driver with the 7th Armored division, landing in Normandy June 8, 1944.  He was involved in 5 major campaigns including Battle of the Bulge.  He worked as a Sheetmetal Mechanic at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton for 32 years, retiring April 1979.  Vergil was a member of Civilian Conservation Corps in Washington State.Surviving are son John Vant (Pam) of Port Orchard; daughters Valerie Hinkle (Ed) of Burlington, Robbyn Handel (Larry) of Bremerton, Virginia Vant of Bremerton, Melissa Flowers (Pat) of St. Marys, Georgia, Rebecca Phillips (Bill) of Gig Harbor; sister Hazel Danel of Port Orchard; 18 gandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by brothers Kenneth, Raymond and Fayburn, and sister Dorothy Marcear.Memorial Service Saturday, March 27, 1999 at 10:30am at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Port Orchard.  Memorial donations may be made to the Red Cross.