Funeral for Richard Wilbourn

obit

Richard, born on February 8, 1929, was raised in Gurley, Alabama where he attended Madison County High School. Richard is the son of John and Lula Mae “Lou” (Thompson) Wilbourn. They had a large family consisting of five daughters and six sons. Richard moved to Chicago in his early 20’s and began a career at Teletype Corporation which would last until his early retirement in 1984. While living and working in Chicago he met and married Faye Ruth (Dotson) Wilbourn and had two sons, Richard Gerald and David Franklin. Richard came from simple means and worked hard to provide a loving and stable home for his family. He simply wanted his Children (and Grandchildren) to have a better life and greater opportunities than he had growing up. To this end he succeeded. Richard leaves us at age 94 and is preceded in death by his parents, all his brothers and sisters, his former wife, Faye and his eldest son, Richard Gerald. Richard is survived by his son, David (LeAnn), Grandchildren, Rick (Bree), Thomas Williams, Evan, Alyssa and Great Granddaughter, Brinley.

Richard leaves behind many family and friends who have benefited from his love and support. While Richard will be missed greatly, his legacy of love will carry forward with all who knew him.

The family would especially like to thank Nell Thompson and Rachel and Bobby Harbin for their love and compassion during Richard’s final years.

Prayer

Introduce

dave

and

rick

Thanks for what you said dave.

My name is Steven Dunne and I am a pastor at rivertree church in downtwon huntsville.

yesterday I had the chance to spend some time with Dave, Rick and their wives and it was remarkable the things they shared with me.

For those of you who knew Richard you came to apperciate how great of a story teller he was

Dave shared that he always enjoyed when dad would share his stories

words that summarize what was shared with me yesterday about Richard are the following

Calm

Content

Steady

supportive- even supporting family members in college

role model

perservere

and loving

Richard didn’t come from a whole lot

he was the son of a share croper and learned to farm early in life which later would lead to his love for gardeining

not having much growing up he knew he wanted a better life for his children and his grandchildren and future generaitons

so he left alabama where you could either farm or work on the aresenal which was a differnt place then and he moved to Chicago

he worked his way up with a company that would eventually be bought out by ATT

his steadyness on this job was evident to his family.

Each day like clockwork He would go to work.

He did this becasue of his charcter, his integrity and his desire to give his family a good life.

All this reminds us of how much he loved

his love was quiet and humble and constent

in listening to Dave yesterday he shared he can still hear his dads razor hitting the sink each morning like clockwork

He rembered how his dad would come hoem after work and alwasy have spearmint or juicy fruit bubble gum with him

once again even on his arrival home after a long day fo work richard was thinking of his family and waiting to show his love for them

and it worked. He provided something better for his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren

when I think about a word to describe him the word

Legacy comes to mind

and it’s his legacy we honor today. It’s his legacy we will continue to honor each day

There is a verse in genesis that reminds me of richard

It’s

Genesis 25:8 ESV

Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

and like Abraham Richard died in good old age

He truly was a man full of years

and he was gathered to his family

the family he loved

the family he gave so much for

and it’s in these moments we have a heart of gratitdue and sorrow

for those who knew richard. FOr those who were impacted by him

for those he provided a better life for they are eteranlly grateful

but at the same time it’s his steadyness, his perservearance, his kindness, his love

and his putting others first that wwill be missed.

but there is one last thing his family shared with me yesterday tha tI want to share with you

Richard was a man of faith.

He believed in Jesus

and the bible is clear that whover calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

so we can have confidence of this. Because richard put his faith in Jesus in this life. He is with Jesus forever in heaven.

and this reality gives us hope

Paul writes in

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Because Ricahrd put his faith in christ we dont’ grieve as those with no hope

why?

we can have confidence Richard is in heaven becasue Jesus died and rose again.

because of the work of Jesus on our behalf Richard is in heaven with Jesus.

as steady as he was

as kind as he was

as loving as he was

none of those are why Richard is in heaven

no richard is with Jesus because he put his faith in Jesus in this life.

and while we do grieve if we are also in christ we know one day like Richard we will be in heaven with Christ and we will see richard again.

we can have this confidence

The bible says to be absent form teh body is to be present with the lord

An amazing thing is when richard breathed his last breath on earth he breathed his first breath in heaven.

and what else we know about heaven is this

English Standard Version Chapter 21

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

and this is what richard is expierecing even as we speak today.

I believe if Richard could talk to us today he would remind us of a few things

first do all you can for yoru family.

second love God with all your heart mind soul and strength

and lastly to give your life to Christ.

he would wan tthat for every single person hearing this today.

I will close with this thought.

As i’ve thought about Richard the last few days I became aware quickly on how well he served and love others.

it reminded me of Gods love

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

and how did Jesus die? How did give his life away

He did it on the cross

and one thing Dave told me yesterday is Richard always wore his cross around his neck

so I want us to be encouraged today by the cross

Because I think it’s in moments of grieveing. Moments of loss, moments of missing someone the ccross brings hope

it’s why so many peoople where the corss aroudn their necks

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

so to richards family and those hearing my vocie today I want to encourage you if you are in a season of greiveing look to the cross becasue at the cross we are reminded of a few things we need to be reminded most in moments like this

God loves you

i’ts probably what we need to know the most

2. God uses the worst for eternal best

3. God is doing more in a moment then we can really understand or imagine

Richard moving to Chicago

provide a better life

you know something I appericate about Richard is he loved to garden

and it’s intersting because Gardening is a central them we see in the Bible

it starts in a garden. perfect and without sin.

Jesus after risen from the dead is in the garden

English Standard Version Chapter 20

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

and maybe you would know tha ttoday. Jesus has called Richards name.

and the bible ends in a garden

Revelation 22:1–6 ESV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

because ultimently God is God of the garden

his god of everything

and he is God of richard life and death

We don’t grieve without hope

we have hope that God is true

and God keeps his promises

as long as today is called today encourage each other with these words

Let’s pray