Family History and Genealogy
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WIL(L)BANKS Family History and Genealogy |
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Robert Martin Wilbanks III, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away at the Eckstein Center, a beautiful Hospice of the Valley facility, the evening of April 19, 2015 after a brief illness. He was born May 27, 1938 in Birmingham, Alabama to Robert M. Wilbanks Jr. and Rexie Anna Clem Wilbanks.
The Wilbanks family was originally from the Crossville and Geraldine area of Sand Mountain in northeastern Alabama. Robert Jr. was born and raised in Gadsden and received his degree in engineering from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (today Auburn) and worked for the Alabama Power Company. The Clem family was from the Tuscumbia and Sheffield area in northwestern Alabama. Rexie Clem was born and raised in Sheffield.
Young Bobby grew up in Winfield and later in Eufaula, Alabama. He Graduated Valedictorian and was voted Most Intellectual, Eufaula High School 1956 where he was a member of Glee Club, Drama Club, Football correspondent, and more. After one term at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Bob matriculated at the University of Alabama where he was a member of Delta Chi, the Army Cadet Officers’ Club (ROTC), and was Sports Editor for the Crimson White school paper, and Associate Editor of the Mahout, campus literary humor magazine, among other groups and activities. He graduated 1960 with his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, was elected into the “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was also a member of the Sigma Delta Chi journalism honorary.
He began his working career as a journalist for “The Columbus Enquirer” (GA). In March 1961 Bob was called to active duty in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Columbus, Georgia and was briefly stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona before being sent to Germany where he met his bride. In 1964 he was promoted to Captain and was stationed at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He served in Vietnam in 1966-1967. After returning to Fort Monmouth Bob was honorably discharged from active duty in October 1967.
The family settled in Long Branch, New Jersey where Bob worked for New York Life and became a member of "The Million Dollar Roundtable". In 1971 the family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Initially Bob continued to work for New York Life but then began to work in Real Estate. He later received his own brokerage license and worked in various aspects of real estate: residential, commercial and then business. He retired in 2003.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years Heidrun Maria Hawlik Wilbanks, Scottsdale; sons Robert M. Wilbanks IV, Scottsdale, Roger M. Wilbanks (Stacie), Los Angeles; grandchildren Kira C. Wilbanks, Iowa, Austin J. Wilbanks, Phoenix; sister Ann W. Gasque (John), Birmingham, Alabama.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, May 27, (2015) 9am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix; main entrance from Pinnacle Peak Road. The family will receive friends at the cemetery immediately following the services, and for those who cannot attend the services but wish to visit the family later, there will be an open house to welcome visitors after 10:30am at the family home in Scottsdale (Shea and 64th Street).
Condolences may be sent to The Wilbanks Family, 6432 East Gary Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254. In lieu of Flowers, please make donations to Hospice of the Valley or Arizona State Council Vietnam Veterans of America or to your favorite heart disease or cancer research charity.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, May 27, (2015) 9am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix; main entrance from Pinnacle Peak Road. There will be no formal funeral, just a simple non-religious graveside service with military honors followed by a few comments by a family member. The family will receive friends at the cemetery immediately following the services, and for those who cannot attend the services but wish to visit the family later, there will be an open house to welcome visitors after 11am at the family home in Scottsdale (Shea and 64th Street).
The reason for the delay in holding services is due to cremation regulations. The family will not receive the cremains until on or shortly after May 2nd. Burial scheduling was limited to Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, due to standard government business operating hours of 9am to 5pm weekdays. The soonest available opening was the week of May 18th. Since Austin, and my niece Kira, both have Senior Final Exams that week, we looked to the week of May 25th for the burial service. Due to my brother’s business travels, the best opening for burial was Wednesday, May 27th, which also happened to be my father’s birthday. The family agreed this would be entirely appropriate for a celebration of his life.
Dad's obituary will be in the Sunday May 17th (2015) Edition of The Birmingham News. Link from here to view the online version.
Dad's obituary will be in the Sunday May 24th (2015) Edition of The Arizona Republic. Link from here to view the online version.
It was a wonderful turnout and a very nice graveside service early this morning for my father. Volunteers from the VFW conducted a beautiful military service followed by wonderful comments, childhood stories and inspiration by Addison Bross of Pennsylvania, my father's maternal cousin. This was followed by a reception at the family home where we again had a wonderful turnout. Thank you all for your kind and very caring sympathies and condolences, love and support.
Visit the virtual grave, and memorial, of Robert Martin Wilbanks III on Find-A-Grave.
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©2012-2015, Robert M. Wilbanks IV, Scottsdale, Arizona
