Thomas "Virgil" Minshew was born on November 12, 1962 in Winter Haven, Florida. He moved to Kissimmee, Florida in 1975. In his early years, he started high school rodeo where he became The Southeast Champion. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1980. After high school he started working at KUA (Kissimmee Utility Authority) where he retired. For over 30 years he has been a member of the National Sporting Clays Association. He was Florida State Champion in 1997, 1998, and 2001.
He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart of 44 years, Caroline "Carol" Fay Beam Minshew, of Okeechobee; brother, Nathan (Leslie) of Cassatt, SC; sister-in-law, Nancy Minshew, of Sequatchie, TN; brother-in-law, Tommy Travers, of Haines City, FL; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased in death by his father and mother, Oscar Roy and Helen Alberta Minshew; brothers, Ronald Eugene, Willie Frank, Charles William, and James "Jimmy" Franklin Minshew; sisters, Barbara Anne Travers, Mary Mildred Minshew, and Theresa Lee Lonieski.
To Virgil no one was a stranger. He touched many lives everywhere he went and was a friend to all. He always had a smile on his face and was eager to help in any way he could, especially through rodeo and sporting clays. He will be missed by many, but is now in the arms of Jesus. There is no doubt he loved the Lord and was welcomed to his eternal home.
