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Douglas man dies a week after accident

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By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Nov 26, 2007 - 12:13:53 am CST

Virgil T. Kress, 46, Douglas, a passenger injured in a one-car accident near his home Nov. 18, died Saturday.

The car’s driver, 44-year-old Betty O. Barnes of Douglas, remained at BryanLGH Medical Center West Sunday. She was cited on suspicion of careless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana after crashing her 1992 Toyota Camry about six miles west of Douglas.

The death of Kress is the latest in a series of unfortunate events suffered by his family.

Almost a year ago, Kress’ 22-year-old son, Douglas, was killed in a one-vehicle crash in rural Otoe County.

According to family member Carolyn Kress, Virgil Kress was also badly injured in a crash nearly 30 years ago that killed his father.

On a Thanksgiving Day in the late 1960s, she said, Virgil lost two sisters in a car crash in Lincoln.

In the 1970s, Virgil’s brother died in a Kansas car crash; in the mid-1980s, another brother died in a car crash in Adams.

This year, Virgil Kress plead guilty in Otoe County District Court to charges of driving with a revoked license, and was given 18 months probation.

His driver’s license was revoked in 2004, after he plead no contest to third-offense charges of driving under the influence in Lancaster County Court.

Carolyn Kress said her brother-in-law and Betty Barnes were on their way home from a party before the Nov. 18 car accident.

Terry Barnes, Betty Barnes’ husband, would not comment on the accident. His wife suffered cuts and a broken leg, according to sheriff’s incident reports.

“She’s getting better slowly,” Terry Barnes said.

He said Virgil Kress was a family friend.

“He had a lot of friends, and he enjoyed his friends and spending time with them,” said Carolyn Kress. “His hobby was small engine repair, and he really enjoyed that.

“Where he lived in Douglas, people that needed repairs on small engines...they would just bring things over and drop it off.”

Sometimes, she said, his customers wouldn’t even leave their names. They would just come back a few days later to pick up their cars, no questions asked.

“He would help anybody he could in any way,” Carolyn Kress said.

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7395 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.


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Grimes Family wrote on November 26, 2007 6:47 am:
" Virgil was a good hearted,well loved man.We will miss him dearly. "

 A Friend of 30+ Years wrote on November 26, 2007 9:47 am:
" Virgil was the kindest person I ever knew and he would go out of his way to help anyone. We will miss him very much. May his family find comfort with the kindness he showed everyone. "

 friend wrote on November 26, 2007 10:08 am:
" I knew him and his kids. It is sad to hear that he passed away. To his daughter keep your head up and things will get better for you. For my family it's been a rough few years with losing my brother but you will get through this and be a stronger person for it. "

 NEIGHBOR wrote on November 26, 2007 11:54 am:
" Virg was a great person and he will be remmebered for his kindness. "

 Virgil was my Uncle wrote on November 26, 2007 11:25 pm:
" I suspect that the intention in sharing my family's very sad history for this article was to bring home the point that untreated alcoholism, not wearing seatbelts and/or careless driving all too often results in fatal car accidents. I sincerely hope that all who have read this story learn from my family's tragic experiences. There is no good reason for a dreadful event of this sort to occur ever again. "

 wife of 20 years wrote on November 28, 2007 3:13 pm:
" What a wonderful article. Remember, Virgil WAS NOT DRIVING. He was picked up by someone who made a special trip out there to make sure he got home, and our Son, Douglas was not drinking at the time of his death. Leave the crap out that happened 2 and 3 years ago and let my daughter remember her daddy for what he was to her. A good and kind man.It doesn't do anyone any good to bring up the past. Everytime there is a fatality the media brings up things that happened in the past all which have absolutely nothing to do with the event that caused the death in the first time. It is fine to remember him in an article, but no one really needs to know the times that he failed. Our daughter needs to move on with her life and grieve without worrying what next will be written. "

 Long time friend wrote on November 30, 2007 9:36 am:
" Virgil was a wonderful man that was always there to help anyone at anytime. He will missed by all those that loved him and have known him thru the years. To his daughter I express my deepest sympathy for her loss and hope that she will always be able to remember her father as the kind wonderful man that he was. We will always be here for you in the future and have admiration for your strength thru this hard time in your life. "

 A & J Rogman wrote on December 4, 2007 7:56 am:
" Remember Virg with Love and Laughter. Virg was a very special friend to us. Never saw him without a smile on his face. He was always willing to be there for a friend. He loved his family tremendously and to his daughter.....I pray that the love Virg had for you will carry you through this tough time. "

 Jerome Pella wrote on December 6, 2007 8:52 am:
" I remember working with Virgil. If it wasn't for him, I would not be the success that I am today. He never did figure out why my Ford Courier had a cigarette lighter but no ashtry. I'm sure he will be missed by all who knew him. "

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