Robert Amzie Wilburn, age 84 died April 18, 2025 in Houston, Texas after a short illness. Family and Friends will gather to celebrate his life at a service to be held at Grace Memorial Chapel on Cuero Highway, Victoria, Texas at 1:00 pm on April 25, 2025, followed by a burial service at Memorial Gardens adjacent to Grace Chapel.
Robert was born in Schlater, Mississippi on April 16,1941 to Robbie Sue Burns and Homer Melvin Wilburn. Bobby is survived by his wife Karen Joann Dunn Wilburn of Victoria, Texas.
Robert A. Wilburn served in the United States Marine Corps from March 1959 until April 1963 serving in Oceanside, California and Okinawa, Japan. After serving in the Marines, Robert began a career as a welder and pipe fitter, working on notable building projects such as the Nuclear Power Plant in Bay City, Texas.
Bobby was a life long car enthusiast who, in his early years, along with his brother Royce, loved to race cars. Later in life, he turned to restoring cars, especially his 1969 Chevelle. Throughout his life he used his mechanical knowledge to help friends and family repair their own cars and passed his knowledge on to many young men who loved to “stop by” and seek his advice.
Robert was a man of faith and was baptized at The Jesus Church in Victoria, Texas by his Pastor Alvin Kight. Back in the days of Bus Ministry, he could be found on weekends working on the buses that would pick up children for Sunday School. Although he was a quiet man, Robert would quickly tell you there is only one way to salvation and that is Jesus.
In addition to his wife, Robert Wilburn is survived by three children, a son Robert Melvin Wilburn of Seattle, Washington, a daughter Melissa Vowell and husband Timothy Vowell of The Woodlands, Texas, and a daughter Misty Pagano and husband Stephen Pagano of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Robert is survived by five grandchildren, grandsons Brenden Vowell and Kaleb Wilburn, and granddaughters Katherine Vowell, Mayci Pagano and Ashlynn Pagano.
He is survived by three great granddaughters, Alivia, Alissa and Aliya Vowell and a great grandson, Kylo Wilburn.
Robert Wilburn is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Robbie Sue Wilburn, brother Royce Burdette Wilburn, sister Linda Yvonne Howard and her husband Troy C. Howard.
His family and friends will greatly miss him and the moments they shared working on cars, going to the gun range, or just having pie and ice cream with Pawpaw.