Virgil E. Waite, Jr.

Virgil died on March 13, 2024, of natural causes. He was a son of the late Virgil E. Waite and Betty Lou (Masters) Waite of Sewickley, PA. Loving father of Cassandra (Waite) Maloney and Candice Waite. Cherished grandfather of Clara Maloney, Aidan Maloney, and Connor Maloney. Beloved brother of Kathy (Waite) Taylor.

Known to his friends and family as “Butch,” and to his grandchildren as “Pappy,” Virgil loved to camp, hunt, and fish in his younger years. He was a maintenance supervisor at Port Authority Transit, and lived in McKeesport, PA and then Murrysville, PA with his daughters and former wife Barbara. He enjoyed an early retirement, settling in Jeannette, PA.

Virgil’s language of love was service. Although a man of few words, he was a self-taught, master car mechanic, helping friends and family with their auto needs. Always resourceful, he enjoyed looking for the part he needed at the local junk yard. He had a community of close friends that supported each other - cutting grass, fixing cars, and giving rides. 

He was also a lively storyteller, recreating in vivid detail the tales of his “hey day,” such as putting bullies in their place and protecting the underdog. He loved country music, his pets, and the thrill of finding a good deal while thrifting.

A lesson to all of us, Virgil enjoyed life’s simple pleasures - the great outdoors, a good television program, and carving out a few minutes of solitude to reflect at his local coffee shop.

Virgil is deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

An inurnment service will be held at Sewickley Cemetery, 501 Hopkins St., Sewickley, PA 15143, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at Sunny's Tavern, 255 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh PA 15202. In lieu of flowers, suggested donations may be made to the American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org. Arrangements entrusted to RICHARD D. COLE FUNERAL HOME, LTD., 328 Beaver St., Sewickley, PA 15143.

“’Tis a Fearful Thing

’Tis a fearful thing

to love what death can touch.

A fearful thing

to love, to hope, to dream, to be —

to be,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this

And a holy thing,

a holy thing 

to love.

For your life has lived in me,

your laugh once lifted me,

your word was gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

‘Tis a human thing, love,

a holy thing, to love

what death has touched.”

~ Yehuda HaLevi

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