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Submitted: 8/22/22 • Approved: 8/25/22 • Last Updated: 8/28/22 • R1444108-G1444106-S3
Tom Wallace Wilbanks
World War II
June 24, 1919 - February 3, 1967
Bronze Star Medal
Frances Napier Wilbanks
1921 - 1989
*Obituary
Tom W. (Tommy) Wilbanks, 47 years old, died at 2 o'clock Friday morning, Feb. 3 in a local hospital following a heart attack which he suffered the previous afternoon at his home on Rena road.
The former sheriff was born June 24, 1919 at Mulberry and was the son of C. Dewey Wilbanks, who died Dec. 26, 1963.
He was a member of the Church of Christ, Van Buren Masonic Lodge, Western Arkansas Consistory, Shrine Club, Odd Fellows lodge, Crawford County Conservation League, American Legion of Mulberry and Robert Jack Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a veteran of World War Two and was awarded the bronze star.
After the war, the family moved to Van Buren. Wilbanks was appointed to the police force by the late Mayor Burton Lankford,a nd was promoted to assistant chief. He made the race for sheriff, and was elected to that office in 1956, serving five terms concluded on Jan. 1, 1967.He was past president of the Van Buren Riding Club, board member of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Rodea, Van Buren Boys Club and United Fund.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Frances Wilbanks; a daughter, Mrs. Tommie Sue Halley of Kileen, Texas; his mother, Mrs. Margie Wilbanks of Van Buren; a brother, Odell Wilbanks of Van Buren; three sisters, Mrs. ALma McClendon of Cedarville, Mrs. Gladys ROgers of ALma and Mrs. Betty Lou Hedrick of Oklahoma City and a granddaughter.
Funeral service was held Monday at 2 p.m., at the Van Buren Church of Christ with John Wilkinson and Don Johnson officiating. Burial in Gracelawn was directed by Ocker Funeral Home.
Casket bearers were Henry Oliver, Bernard Young Jr., Russel Matthews, Virgil Goff, Frank Gregory Jr., and N. D. Edwards.
Out of town relatives who attended the funeral were, Mrs. Felix Parrot of Koscuisko, Miss., Mr. and Mrs. Glen Phillips of Comanche, Okla., Mrs. W. D. Casey of Hennypinn, Okla., Mrs. Bonnie Lee Davis of Tulsa, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Hedrick Sr. of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Amos Hedrick Jr., of Oklahoma City, Gayle and Gus Murphy of DeLano, Calif., Mrs. Dean Wilhoite and Mrs. Leon Maddox, both of Howe, Okla.
Photo courtesy of Frances Allen Titsworth
Contributed on 8/22/22 by Billsully060
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Record #: 1444108