Wilburn Jr., Edward Lee

Edward Lee (Pete) Wilburn Jr., 63, of Narrows, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2008, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

A lifelong resident of Giles County, he was born on May 10, 1944, and was the son of the late Edward Lee Wilburn Sr. and Dollie Mae Hare Wilburn. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth and Robert Hare; and three sisters, Mildred and Louise Blankenship and Madeline Perdue.

Pete was a retired employee of Celanese Acetate in Narrows where he served as an instructor and member of the Celco Fire Department. He retired from the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department after 35 years of continuous and devoted service. An avid coon hunter and sportsman, Pete was also a faithful Virginia Tech Hokies fan.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Betty Lou Steele Wilburn; two sons, Dewayne Edward Wilburn and wife, Melinda (Mitzi), of Blacksburg, and Troy Lee Wilburn and wife, Teri, of Dublin; a daughter, Deborah Lynn Wilburn, of Narrows; three grandchildren, Craig Edward Wilburn, Michelle Dawn Wilburn and Jennifer Nichole Webb; two sisters, Phyllis Bowers and husband, Howard, of Baltimore, Md., and Loraine Bowers and husband, Bobby, also of Baltimore.

The family wishes to thank Dr. John A. Boone and his staff for the care given. F

uneral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2008, in the Chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows with the Rev. John Morris officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Narrows.

The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service on Friday, March 7, 2008, from 6 to 9 p.m. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department, 133 Center St., Narrows, Va. 24124. Online condolence messages to the family can be sent to www.riffes.com.