L.G. Melvin Wilbanks

LG Melvin Wilbanks went to be with his heavenly Father on August 27, 2022 in Claremore, Oklahoma at the age of 94, surrounded by his family. LG was born in Heavener, Oklahoma in 1927, the youngest of 12 children to Lone Wilbanks and Sallie (Stacy) Wilbanks, and graduated from Heavener High School. LG played basketball and ran track. As a senior, he was named Homecoming King.
LG retired after 42 years with Overhead Door Company of Tulsa. Throughout his life, he loved to hunt and fish. After his retirement he took on a second career as a remodeler, as he was also a talented carpenter. When he was not working, you could always find him in his hothouse or garden growing his prize tomatoes. He loved to listen to gospel music and was a wonderful story teller. He never met a stranger, and if you had to sum him up in one word, it would be, kind.
LG married his childhood sweetheart, Inez Neeley of Poteau, in 1948. During their 73 years of marriage, they lived briefly in Heavener and Oklahoma City, and then moved to Tulsa to raise their three children, Carlotta Ruth, Kathy Diane, and Timothy Alan. In Tulsa, they lived in the same house for 57 years before moving to Claremore to be near family. LG and Inez were members of South Lakewood Baptist Church for over 60 years where LG's green thumb was put to good use for many years there caring for the church's landscaping.
LG was loved by his family and many friends and will be greatly missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents and eleven brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife, Inez Wilbanks; daughter Carlotta (Tim) Rose of Darby, Montana, daughter Kathy (Denny) Kochheiser of Claremore, Oklahoma, and son Tim (Kim) Wilbanks of Collinsville, Oklahoma; grandchildren Melissa (Brian) Scheef, Nicole (Daniel Jones) Martin, Kristin Burnett, Cody (Dannielle) Wilbanks, Laura (Nick) Etter, and Jason Kochheiser; great grandchildren Kendra Jones, Jessie (DJ) Beshear, Adam (Lynsey) Scheef, Aubrey Wilbanks, Brylie Wilbanks, Jackson Etter, Emma Wilbanks, Henry Jones, Jayla Etter and Declan Wilbanks; great-great grandchildren Gracie McClain, Savannah McClain, and Kassandra Harrison; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 30th from 6pm to 8pm at Moore's Eastlawn Chapel where the family will receive visitors, and a Celebration of Life will be at South Lakewood Baptist Church in Tulsa, on Wednesday, August 31st at 10 am. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Moore's Eastlawn Chapel, 918-622-1155