Wilburn H. "Slim" Stokes

Services for Wilburn H. "Slim" Stokes, 89, of Zavalla, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Concord Baptist Church in Zavalla with Bro. Link Ham and Michael Rhodes officiating. Interment will follow in yhe Concord Cemetery in Zavalla.

Mr. Stokes was born July 26, 1923 in San Augustine County, the son of Emma (Simmons) and William Houston Stokes. He passed away Monday, January 28, 2013 in a local hospital.

Mr. Stokes graduated from Port Neches High School. He served his country with the Second Infantry Division of the United States Army for four years, including service in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge during WW II. He worked for Dupont Sabine River Works and retired after 34 years. He moved to Zavalla in 1982 after building his home on Lake Sam Rayburn. He was married to Margie Rhodes Stokes for 51 years until her death in 1996. He later married Clara Allen in 1998. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved his church family, outdoors and family get-togethers.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Stokes of Zavalla; daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Jim Berwick of Port Neches; son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Peggy Stokes of Glassport, Pennsylvania; daughter-in-law, Suzanne Stokes of Houston; grandchildren, Alicia Rector and husband Robert, Christy Smith and husband Stanley, Paige Stokes, Ashley Hlebichuk and husband Johnny and Chantal Stokes; 9 great-grandchildren; and 4 step-children.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Stokes; grandson, Ryan Stokes; 8 siblings; and first wife, Margie Stokes.

Pallbearers will be Rob Rector, David Clark, Stanley Smith, Donald Rhodes, Robert Hopson and Paul Salvador.

Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Concord Baptist Church of Zavalla.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening, February 1, 2013 at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home