Charles Ward Wilburn

Mr. Charles Ward Wilburn, 89, retired credit manager for John Deere & Company in Memphis, died Saturday, November 3, 2007 at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Graymere Church of Christ with John Vaughan and Ken Joines officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to service time at the church. Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401 or Graymere Church of Christ Mission Fund, 1320 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Rutherford County, he was the son of the late Maurice Wilburn and Fannie Neil Ward Wilburn and a graduate of Central High School in Murfreesboro. After attending Middle Tennessee State University, he earned a B. S. Degree in Agriculture from the University of Tennessee. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Army Field Artillery Division in Germany, attained the rank of Captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was recalled to duty during the Korean War and did a tour of duty in Korea. Mr. Wilburn was a member of Graymere Church of Christ where he served as an Elder after also serving as an Elder of Whitehaven Church of Christ in Memphis for a total of 25 years. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margaret Parr Wilburn of Columbia; two sons, Dr. Charles Douglas (Beth) Wilburn of Columbia and Stephen Andrew (Cheryl) Wilburn of Kingwood, Texas; a daughter, Margaret Lynn Wilburn of Brentwood; a sister, Mary Neil McGriff of Hialeah, Florida; five grandchildren, Aaron (Little Star) Wilburn, Fort Collins, Colorado, Lauren Wilburn, Memphis, Neil Wilburn, Nashville, Lindsey Wilburn, Kingwood, Texas, and Kellie Wilburn, Kingwood, Texas; two nieces, Jane (Steve) Edmonds, Smyrna and Susie Lavery , Port St. Lucia, Florida; a nephew, Pat McGriff, Hialeah, Florida. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Suzanne Wilburn and a sister, Ann Francis. Active pallbearers are J. W. Nicholas, Steve Edmonds, Pat McGriff, Aaron Wilburn, Neil Wilburn, Robert Waddell, Harold Hardison, and George Brazelton. Honorary pallbearers include past and present Elders of Graymere Church of Christ.