Phillip Eugene Wilbanks

Phillip Eugene Wilbanks, age 80, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Phillip was born on January 1, 1944 in Brownsboro, AL. After his service to our Country in the United States Army, he went to work with Gilbert Engineering as a Land Surveyor. In 1977 he started Wilbanks Land Surveying Company and operated it until his retirement in 2016. He was very active in his church in many roles. He was elected as a Deacon at Lincoln Memorial Baptist Church in 1967. He taught Sunday School and Wednesday night classes for various age groups throughout his life as well as an Interim Preacher at various churches and retirement homes. Phillip served in different outreach missions such as prison ministry, retirement home ministry and community van pick up and drop off for people unable to drive to church.

Phillip was active in the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors. He served as President in 1994 and was a lifetime member. Throughout the years, he served on all standing committees within the Society. He, along with other surveyors in the Tennessee Valley, developed the Tennessee Valley of Professional Land Surveyors Society. He served as President and was a lifelong member and was dedicated in enhancing the land surveying profession. He worked to help write and improve the Standards of Practices for land surveying in Alabama and getting it incorporated in the state board of licensure requirements. He led the initiative to require continuing education for land surveyors. Phillip was active in getting the licensure law changed to require a 4 year degree for land surveyors. He also actively promoted the licensure law change to include a land surveyor on the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. He helped set up a scholarship fund for future land surveyors as well as teaching continuing education classes at Auburn University and Troy State University. He served as an expert witness for many prominent attorneys in Huntsville. Phillip was instrumental in resetting the Huntsville Meridian Initial Point alongside the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors. Phillip provided employment for imprisoned individuals on work release through his business. He actively sent recommendations to the Huntsville Planning Committee to build and expand the walking / biking paths in Huntsville. Phillip help to set up and supply old surveying instruments to the Surveyor's Office in Constitution Hall Park.

Phillip is survived by his wife of 61 years Linda Sue McCrary Wilbanks, his children; Phillip Wilbanks and Joanna Wilbanks Whisenant and her husband Scott, grandchildren; Ashley Fuller and her husband Riley, Ryan Whisenant and Casey Whisenant, great grandchild; Brooke Fuller, two Brothers; David "Moose" Wilbanks and Nathan Wilbanks, two Sisters; Patricia Wilbanks Bullington and her husband Lynn and Juanita Pettey.

Visitation for Phillip will be held Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home, 698 Winchester Rd NE, Huntsville, Alabama 35811. Following the visitation will be the celebration of life service at 2:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home Chapel, 698 Winchester Rd NE, Huntsville, Alabama 35811. Phillip will be laid to rest in Valhalla Memory Gardens, Huntsville, AL.