Family of Lawson M. Virkler makes donation to Lewis County Hospital Foundation to name Hospital’s new morgue in Lowville

LOWVILLE- The family of Lawson M. Virkler has made a contribution to the Lewis County Hospital Foundation, in his memory.

The donation will serve to name the new morgue at Lewis County Health System.

As a long-time funeral director, the gift is a fitting tribute to Mr. Virkler, who passed away in March of 2018.

During his nearly three decades of operating the Virkler Funeral Home, Mr. Virkler greatly valued the services provided to the community by the hospital and was a frequent visitor to the facility’s old morgue.

The Virkler Funeral Home was originally founded by Mr. Virkler’s father, Maurice N. Virkler, in 1926 and was at the time the first funeral home to operate in the Village of Lowville.

The elder Mr. Virkler operated the funeral home until his death in 1954, at which point Lawson took over the operation of the business, which at the time also included an ambulance service. He then operated the funeral home until his retirement in 1981.

During his years in business, Mr. Virkler was well known in the local community and developed an excellent reputation for helping families through the difficult time of dealing with the loss of a loved one.

Prior to taking over the Virkler Funeral Home, Mr. Virkler graduated from Lowville Academy in 1948, attended Hobart College and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming.

He enlisted in the United States Navy and at the time of his discharge in 1954. He was a Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class.

Following his education, service in the U.S. Navy, career and retirement, Mr. Virkler remained a staunch supporter of the hospital and the role it plays for people of the North Country.

According to the Hospital Foundation, his family is honored to be able to preserve his memory and the memory of his association with the hospital through their donation.

Image via Lewis County Hospital Foundation.