Ronald “Ray” Wilburn

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Mr. Ronald “Ray” Wilburn, 74, died Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Baptist East in Memphis, TN. The funeral will be Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Zach Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in Vaughn Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:00 A.M.

Mr. Wilburn was born September 3, 1948, to the late William and Wanda Wilburn. During high school, Mr. Wilburn felt called to serve his country, and began his military career. He completed two tours to Vietnam while in the Navy, joined the National Guard, and in 1992, became a fulltime tank commander with the Army. Mr. Wilburn served during Operation Desert Storm, and served in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. On September 11, 2001, he was traveling to Iraq for deployment, never daunted by the tasks that laid ahead, always accepting his orders with a quiet sense of bravery. During his military career, he worked as a civilian for the University of Mississippi, and found great peace working on his farm. After his retirement from the military and inspired by his own disability, Mr. Wilburn made it his mission to help other veterans receive the benefits they so desperately needed. Devoting much of his time to this important work, he was appointed State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. A proud member of First Baptist of Abbeville, Mr. Wilburn had a deep love for his church and church family, gathering together to play dominos and fellowship with one another. He had an active love of trading vehicles, always keeping his eye open for his next ride. Despite his hard work and commitment to his country, Mr. Wilburn always put his family first. He held a close relationship with his only son, Alan, and was overjoyed to watch his grandchildren grow. In addition to his parents, Mr. Wilburn was preceded in death by his brother, G.T. Wilburn.

Mr. Wilburn is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Wilburn of Abbeville, MS; son, Alan Wilburn and his wife, Jennifer of Oxford, MS; brother, Robert Wilburn of Abbeville, MS; sisters, Sandra Allen and her husband, Larry of Abbeville, MS, Jean Jones of Abbeville, MS, and Ruth Hadorn of Abbeville, MS; and grandchildren, Sara Jane Wilburn and Ronald Alan “A.J.” Wilburn, Jr.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Mr. Wilburn’s memory may be made to Abbeville Baptist Church Building and Grounds Fund, 15 E Long Street, Abbeville, MS 38601.