John W. Wilbanks

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wilbanks died Monday, Nov. 14, at his residence in Cullman. One of seven children, he was born Nov. 16, 1932, in Cullman to sharecroppers, Virgil Columbus and Emma Elizabeth Ann Cook Wilbanks. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served as a member of the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, “The Bloody-One Unit.” He served in Wurzburg, Germany, and Schweinfurt, Germany. He also worked for Cullman Products, the Malchow basket factory, Don Carnish and then went to work of timber logging and hauling pulpwood. A survivor, he came through the war, back surgery and beat Hodgkins Lymphoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Wendray, Holline, Columbus, Walter; a grandson, Kenny Culbreath; and a great-grandson, Blake Johnson.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Willie Jo Buchanan Wilbanks; four children, Cheryl Penny (Steve) Moody, Rebecca McAnalley, John (Janease) Wilbanks Jr. and Virgil Andrew (Marcy) Wilbanks; two sisters, Hollie Mae (the late Argus) Duke and Lady Elan (Vernon) Alvis; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

“We loved him very much and will miss him dearly. God cured him by taking him home. We will see him again.”