Justin Jay Wilburn

Jay Wilburn, 78, of Bloomfield, Iowa died October 9, 2008 at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born April 22, 1930 in Van Buren County, Iowa to Evert Ray and Julia Keo Batterson Wilburn. He married Margaurette Aeschliman July 22, 1950 in Bloomfield, Iowa. He graduated from Selma Consolidated Schools in 1947. He worked for Louden’s/ACCO in quality control and served in the National Guard. He was a member of the Bloomfield United Methodist Church, the Vice President of the Davis County Historical Society, served on the Senior Citizens Board and was also on the Board of Adjustment for the city of Bloomfield.

He is survived by his wife; 3 sons, Mike (Marilyn) Wilburn of Concord, California, Carl (Karen) Wilburn of Glidden, Iowa, Tony (DeAnna) Wilburn of Taylorsville, Georgia; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Spees of St. Charles, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 sisters, Keo Baker and Opal Klicker.

Funeral services was at 10:30am on Monday, October 13, 2008 at the Bloomfield United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, Iowa with Pastors Kevin Gingerich and Eric Schumacher officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield. Memorials have been established to the Bloomfield United Methodist Church and to the American Cancer Society.

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Jay was a long time member of the BUMC mens group and attended the Monday night bible study regularly. He never missed a Monday night when he was in town except when he or someone else in the family was sick or there was some in need of help or just needed to talk. I remember him telling the group he was sorry he missed the past Monday night study because, before he walked out to leave for Bible Study the phone rang and the person needed to talk.

Jay could always tell a story, and they were always interesting. If you needed someone to help you, he was there, just a phone call away. I remember telling the group on one Monday night I needed help getting some things to Ottumwa for my niece and needed a truck. He asked what time I wanted to do it. He showed up the next morning and we took what I had and a couple things he came up with and when we had unloaded the items, Jay made sure they were hooked up right and working before we left.

Jay always opened our study in prayer. NO matter how much we grow as a group, no one will ever be able to fill the hole Jay leaves in the group. He will be missed. But we know where he is. Paul tells us to be here on earth was for Christ's work, which Jay emulated and to die was to be with Christ. Jay is with Christ now and even though we miss him, we know he is in a better place waiting and watching for us to join him.

After one of the men in the group suggested it, the group discussed it and asked Margaurette if it was ok with her, our mens group has taken on his name, in Jay's honor. Monday night mens bible study will from this time on be known as “The Jay Wilburn Mens Bible Study Group”

He will be truly missed. I hope to have several others memories/stories about Jay added to this page soon. If you have a story to tell about Jay, write it down and send it to me and I will add it to this page.

Charles

casawyer@netins.net