Donald E Wilburn

He was born March 7, 1936 in Pontiac, son of Alfred and Ellen Kingsnorth Wilburn. He first married Lavella Schall on November 24, 1958 in Bloomington and had four children; he then married Barbara Grimwood on March 28, 1965 in Cornell and they had four children. He last married Pamela Hepner on February 24, 1982 in Bloomington and they had three children. She preceded him in death in 2006. He was also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Donald L. and George Wilburn; one grandson, Randy L. Thomas, II; one great-granddaughter, Kaydence Knight and six siblings.

Surviving are nine biological children, Alfred Wilburn of Hoopston, Catherine Eads of Bloomington, Donna (Bobby) Hitchcock of Gibson City, Mary (Terry Gordon) Durbin of Bloomington, William (Vicky) Wilburn of Kiawa, KS, Tammy (Joe) Hines of Cedar Point, Dale Wilburn of Springfield, Teddy (Mindy) & Karen Wilburn, both of Bloomington and his adopted four adopted children, Roger and Noe Mendiola and Terry and Thomas Wilburn, all of Bloomington. Also surviving are 40 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Charles (Phylis) Wilburn of Bloomington and Kenneth (Vicky) Smith of South Carolina and two sisters, Mildred Keene and Maggie Smith, both of Pontiac.

Donald was raised in the Soldiers and Salems Children’s Home in Normal. For a period of time, he moved back to Pontiac, but returned to the Bloomington-Normal area in the 1970’s.

He worked as a dry-waller in the Bloomington-Normal area for most of his career. He loved to remodel homes and to work with his hands. He was a “Jack-of-all-trades.”

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 7, 2013 at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, IL, where visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Interment services will be held at East Lawn Memorial Gardens immediately following services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Online condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.EastLawn-Bloomington.com.