Wilburn Lee Davis

Wilburn Lee Davis, 83 of San Angelo, Texas went home to his Heavenly Father on December 1, 2013. Wilburn was born February 11, 1930 to Sidney Estes Davis and Maebelle Boyer south of Ballinger, Texas. At age six, his family moved to the Branch place.

Wilburn graduated Ballinger High School in 1947 and in 1948 enlisted in the United States Navy. After boot camp in San Diego, California, he was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. There he was assigned to All Weather Flight School under the supervision of John Glenn, who would later achieve fame as an astronaut.

While stationed in Corpus Christi, Wilburn began attending a small Baptist church near the naval base where he met his beloved bride, Myrtis Ellinor Harris, who he married on January 1, 1954. Their union was blessed by four children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Wilburn began his career as a newspaperman while still at the Naval Air Station, writing articles about servicemen for their hometown newspapers. He spent his last 10 months of duty during the Korean War stationed in Adak, Alaska, where he produced the base’s daily newspaper.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1951, Wilburn headed home to Texas and began attending the University of Corpus Christi, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His career in the newspaper business spanned nearly three decades and included positions as an ad compositor at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; in the offices of the Mena Star in Mena, Arkansas; and as editor of the Mathis News in Mathis, Texas.

After the last of their four children graduated high school in 1979, Wilburn and Myrtis returned to his hometown of Ballinger. In 1981, he was appointed by the County Commissioners to complete a term as Justice of the Peace of Runnels County. He was publicly re-elected to this position several times, serving more than 11 years.

In 2002, Wilburn and Myrtis moved to San Angelo, Texas and became faithful members of Belmore Baptist Church. Wilburn devoted many years of service as a deacon at Belmore and at other churches including Seventh Street Baptist Church in Ballinger.

Wilburn was preceded in death by his parents and brother Jerry Lynn Davis. Wilburn is survived by his wife of 59 years, Myrtis Ellinor Harris; brother Weldon “Gene” Davis of Ballinger; children: Lee Wayne Davis (Cindy) of Brenham, TX, Glenn Ray Davis (Kathy) of Euless, TX, Pamela Sue Buffington (Larry) of Smithville, OK, and Kenneth “Dale” Davis (Ann) of Bristol, VA; grandchildren: Dylan Buffington, Justin Davis, Devin Vergason, Krystal Davis, Amy Ross, Katie Davis, and Abi Davis; great-grandchildren: Grayer Davis, Judah Vergason, Jaxon Ross, Griffin Davis, and Davis Vergason.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at Belmore Baptist Church in San Angelo. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger.