Carl Howard Wilbanks, Sr.

Graveside services for Carl Howard Wilbanks, Sr., 69, Pomona, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2014 at the Antioch Cemetery under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Wilbanks spirit returned to his Maker at 7:04 p.m.,  Saturday, January 18, 2014, at his home.  He was born March 9, 1944 in West Plains, Missouri to Paul Jones (Pete) Wilbanks, Jr. and Maude Ruth Layson Wilbanks.  On August 25, 1963, he was married to Mary Margaret Menard, also known as Tooter, at the Mt. Zion Church, Pomona, Missouri.  To this union, three children were born, Carl Wilbanks, Jr., Margaret Yvonne Wilbanks and Marvin Jay Wilbanks.

Carl was a hard worker and worked at different places throughout his 50 years of working with the public.  He worked at Ozark Action, ran the feed store at White Church for Pedro Daily, was a custodian at the West Plains High School, Richards Brother’s Store, helped build the first airport at Table Rock Lake, worked at Edgeller and Harper, moved house trailers with his friend and neighbor, George Kuehner, continued moving house trailers for Taylor’s Mobile Home Service and worked for Terry Carroll doing landscaping. He also raised feeder pigs and beef cattle on the family farm. He was a good man who overcame many obstacles. Since 2001, he fought a long fight with cancer, surviving several surgeries at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, radiation and chemo at West Plains where many angels without wings fought to save him, but God chose to take him home, to end his suffering and give him peace.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the family home; a beloved granddaughter, Nikki Reyes, of the family home; his son, Carl Wilbanks, Jr., wife, Tammy, Pomona, Missouri; his daughter, Margaret Jones, husband, Beau Jones, whom he loved like a son, Dadeville, Missouri; his son, Marvin Wilbanks, wife, Shannon, Pomona, Missouri; two step-granddaughters, Crystal Cody, Pomona, Missouri and Shawna Holland, Jonesboro, Arkansas; one brother, Glen Wilbanks, wife, Donna, West Plains, Missouri; two sisters, Cora Jane Gunter, husband, Leman, West Plains, Missouri and Linda Edgeller, husband, Bruce, West Plains, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, an older infant sibling, Joseph Wilbanks, a half-sister, Sybil Pittinger, younger brother, Ray Wilbanks, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry and Minnie Thompson, precede him in death.

Carl will be greatly missed by his wife, children, and his extended family.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 22nd, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Antioch Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.