John Duncan Wilbanks was born on Christmas Day, 1919 in Grannis, Arkansas and died peacefully on April 9, 2016 in El Paso, Texas after several months of gentle decline. He was raised in Texarkana, Texas, the youngest son of Presbyterian Minister Dr. Thomas J. Wilbanks and Sarah Elizabeth Winston Wilbanks. He often recalled growing up in the Great Depression, and as soon as he was old enough, he worked behind the soda fountain at Fowler’s drug store and caddied for golfers at the Texarkana Country Club. In the second grade he met the love of his life Margaret Jacqueline “Jackie” Hanes and finally got up the gumption to ask her for a date when they were seniors in high school. It’s hard to believe that our outgoing, gregarious, charming Dad was ever that shy. After graduating from Trinity University in 1941 with a degree in Journalism, he and Jackie were married.
He was immediately drafted into the Army, and was in Officer Candidate School at Fort Warren, Wyoming when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. During the war he served in England as an officer in the Quartermaster Corps, helping to plan the D-Day invasion. Back from the war, and journalism jobs unavailable, he worked for his uncle on the loading docks. He quickly learned that lifting crates all day was not going to be his career choice, and he enrolled at the University of Texas to fulfil his pre-dental requirements. He was accepted at Baylor College of Dentistry, and received his D.D.S. degree in 1953. In 1954 he moved his young family to El Paso where he began his dental practice at 1400 Montana Avenue. At that time, his office was located farther east than any other dental practice in El Paso, except for one at Five Points. In 1960, he moved his practice to the El Paso Medical Center where he practiced until his retirement in 1995. He loved the Profession of Dentistry and served his patients with his incredible staff for over 40 years.
His refreshing, optimistic outlook served him well throughout his life. Even in retirement, and professional until the end, he would make the rounds to visit his dentist friends in his coat and tie, looking like a million dollars. Dr. John was the consummate professional, and positively influenced the Profession of Dentistry here in El Paso, in Texas and nationally. He was President of the Texas Dental Association and President of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. He served on the Board of Trustees of Baylor College of Dentistry, and President of the Texas Section of the American College of Dentists. He was elected to the Baylor College of Dentistry Hall of Fame, and was the first recipient of the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service, the highest award of the Texas Dental Association. During eight years on the Texas State Dental Board of Examiners, he tested over two thousand new dental school graduates for licensure. As a result, Dr. Wilbanks was well known in the dental community throughout Texas and served as a mentor to countless Texas dentists.
He was active in many civic organizations including the Downtown Kiwanis Club, El Paso Opera, El Paso Pro Musica, El Paso Historical Society, El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Symphony and El Paso City-County Board of Health. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 62 years. He was an avid golfer and sports fan, and loved the Miners, the Longhorns and those dang Cowboys. Evenings would find him in his easy chair, puffing on his pipe, listening to classical music, and reading a book on an event in history. He collected antique pewter, and he and Jackie traveled many times to England to add to his extensive collection.
His wife of 52 years, Jackie, died in 1993. He is survived by his sons, Dr. David S. Wilbanks and John Winston Wilbanks (wife Jan), daughter Sarah Elizabeth Winston Wilbanks, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. He was especially appreciative of his extended family members, Amparo Acosta and Marilu Galindo, for 60 years of loving service. He will be remembered as the Greatest Dad by his family, and as a True Gentleman by all who knew him.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 12:00 Noon at First Presbyterian Church, 1340 Murchison Drive. A private family burial at Memory Gardens is planned before the memorial service. Pall bearers are his grandsons Luke Wilbanks, Ben Wilbanks, and David John Wilbanks, and also Tom Paul, Paul Dudley, Doug Wright, Junior Crowson and Dr. Bob McFadden. Honorary pall bearers are his friends and colleagues in the El Paso District Dental Society. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jeff Spier, Dr. Vinay Patel, George Guardado, George DeVito, Robert Avila and Teo Llanes for their exceptional care and kindness in our father’s final days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church, Humane Society of El Paso, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Martin Funeral Home West of El Paso.
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