VERNON BOLEN
04/30/1932 – 10/11/2025
Vernon E. Bolen, 93, of Sardis, Ohio, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born, April 30, 1932, and raised on the family farm in Sardis to parents, Harold V. Bolen and Juanita Reynolds Bolen.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, JR Bolen and Jane Wright Bolen and maternal grandparents, Ralph and Clara Reynolds. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert C. Bolen, a sister, Joyce Shanks, his dog, Red and his cat, Lucy.
He is survived by a brother, Dallas S. (Linda) Bolen and a sister, Marie Litman. He was married in 1954 to wife, Shyrla Fluharty Bolen, who continues to live in the family home in Sardis.
Also surviving Vernon are three daughters, Crystle L. (K. Robert) Buchanan of Parkersburg, W.V., Regina Farsaci of Washington, Pa., and Katrinka (Paul) Durig of Sardis; four grandchildren, Ryan Farsaci, Brandon Buchanan, Jessica Farsaci and Austin (Lauren) Buchanan; four great-grandchildren, Rory Buchanan, Luke Robert Buchanan, Callahan Buchanan and Sarah-Kathryn Buchanan.
Vernon attended school, beginning at age six, at the Calico Ridge one room school house just outside of Sardis for eight years where he walked ½ mile to school the entire time. He then went to the high school in Sardis, graduating in 1950. After high school Vernon entered the Army, where he served for three years as staff sergeant in Germany.
After the service to his country, Vernon worked construction through the local union hall, discovering his unusual aptitude for building, which he continued for the rest of his life. During this period of time work was plentiful and in one year he earned 14 W-2’s from the various companies he worked. He then took a job at Conalco Plant in Hannibal, Ohio, where he continued to work for 39 and a half years prior to retirement.
Vernon often recalled the memories of his years on the farm where he worked with his father and began milking cows at the young age of six. He never forgot the time his father spent with him as a young man teaching him to cradle wheat at 16. He also remembered the years hunting and fishing with his family and getting his first rabbit at age 12, all of this possible because of the safety training by his father.
Vernon belonged to the Masonic Temple Lodge 374 and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of the Scottish Right of Cambridge. He was very proud to be a lifetime member of the Osiris Shrine and the Legion of Honor. He was a proud member of the Tri-County Shrine Club and the American Legion Post 760 for 64 years. He was 32nd degree Mason and an active member of the United Methodist Church in Sardis. He was a member for 40 years of the United Steel Workers of America.
Throughout his life Vernon was noted as always being available to assist anyone when needed.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory 751 Third St., New Martinsville, W.V., where services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Cathy Harman officiating.
Masonic Lodge services will be held Thursday evening at the funeral home at 7 p.m.
Interment will follow in Sardis Cemetery with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.
Sympathy expressions at grisellfuneralhomes.com.
