Wilbert "Bert" Howard Binford

Wilbert H. Binford (Bert) was born in 1933 to Roxie and Thomas in the mountains of Arkansas (both deceased). After the death of Bert’s father, the family moved back to the Turrell/Marion AR. Area where his mother went into the restaurant business. When fire destroyed her business they moved to Memphis in the Midtown area and started over. Bert attended Snowden Elementary and Central High school where he played in the band. Soon after graduation, he joined the U.S. Marines, serving over 3 years. From there he made his way to Baylor University. He worked at a number of jobs and made plans for the future. He worked the plan, first making Jesus his Lord and Savior and telling others about Jesus. While at Baylor he met and married June Morris of Ripley, TN. Four children were born to this union, Michelle Richardson (Rick), Bob Binford (Julia), Elizabeth Brown (Tom), and Bill Binford (Melissa). These four children gave him 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. During his life time he worked many jobs including 27 years at Rayloc, 3 years in Inner-city Ministry in Chicago, and traveled the country establishing auto part factories. Later he worked a number of years in the Security Dept. of Pink Palace. After 50 years, his wife, June, died. He put his life back together by going back to work and returned to Leawood Baptist Church. He was a Mason. Ordained as deacon at Whitehaven Baptist Church where among other things he led the Indian Church for 3 years. At Leawood, he met and married his sweetheart, Opal Blaylock. He was a chairman of deacons, taught the Men’s Bible class and the Auditorium Bible class. He was the coordinator of Counselors for Leawood Mission Center. Bert and Opal had nine glorious years together with this marriage he gained 2 step sons, Rev. Michael Blaylock (Donna), Walter Blaylock (Liz), 5 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He had 1 brother, Addison (deceased), and 2 sisters, Dottie McPhail (Dr. Jasper), and Lovette Ladale Neal left to miss and mourn their dear brother, also several nephews and a niece and an untold number of friends. Funeral service will be Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Family Funeral Care on Summer Ave. Visitation will be at 12 pm and funeral at 2 pm. Interment will follow at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Wings Cancer Center on Wolf River, Leawood Mission Center or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at memphisfamilyfuneral.com.