Joseph H. (Jack) Wilburn, Sr.

Joseph H. Wilburn Sr (Jack), passed away peacefully, his family at his side, after a brief illness.
He was just two weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. He was the husband of Mary Rorke Wilburn for 45 years until she passed in 1999. He was later married to Shirley Hovanic-Wilburn until her death in 2019. He was a devoted caregiver to each before they passed.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, he joined the Army Air Force in 1946 and served in the US Air Force for 28 years. He served in Los Alamos and Roswell, New Mexico, the Air Attaché in Iran and London, in Wichita Falls and San Antonio, Texas, in Naples, Italy and Virginia. After retiring in 1974 he opened Grafton Texaco in Grafton, Virginia, a business that continues to operate today under his son, Jack Jr.
Jack enjoyed traveling the world and visiting with his family on both coasts of the US. He was quick to laugh, kind to all, and was a master of storytelling. Most importantly he was a role model as a husband and father. He most recently lived at the Colonial Harbor in Yorktown.
He is survived by his five children and their spouses, Beverly and John Heath of Vancouver, WA; Barbara and Paul Wert of Fairfax, Virginia, Tom and Linda Wilburn of Beverly, Massachusetts, Deborah and Brendan McConnell of Yorktown, and Jack and Joyce Wilburn of Yorktown. He is known as Papa to his 11 grandchildren David Heath, Katie Heath Lemen, Matthew Wert, RJ Collier, Amber Wilburn Giampa, Ryan McConnell, Stephen Heath, Adam McConnell, Jaclyn Wilburn, Evan McConnell, and Wesley Collier. He had 11 beautiful great-grandchildren. His extended family included BJ and Kathy Hovanic, Steve and Ana Hovanic and Mark and Sharon Hovanic and his bonus grandchildren Meghan, Anya, Tatiana, Mary Kate, Ethan, Joseph and Seth. He is also survived by a niece Lynn Wood and nephew Robert Wilburn.
The family will receive friends on Thursday September 2, 2021 from 6 to 8 PM in Amory Funeral Home.
A funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday morning at 9:30 AM in the funeral home. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 2:00 PM in Riverview Cemetery Richmond, Va.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to charity of your choice.