Wilburn Johnathan Sample

SAMPLE, WILBURN JONATHAN Wilburn Jonathan Sample, age 84, of Birmingham, AL passed away November 9th, 2011. He was born on February 25, 1927 in Etowah, TN. A devout Christian, he was a member of McElwain Baptist Church, where he started and taught the Couples' Class. Wilburn was ordained a deacon at South Avondale Baptist Church, where he was a member in his formative years along with his parents and his three brothers and two sisters. Mr. Sample was preceded in death by his parents, William Jonathan Sample and Sarah Waits Sample; two sisters, Mary Alice Sample and Margaret Ann Baker; two brothers, Marvin E. Sample and Clifford E. Sample; and one daughter, Doris Elaine Logan. He is survived by his wife, Charleane E. Sample; his youngest brother, Charles Newton Sample of Austin, TX; daughters Catherine Slonecki (Jim) of Charleston, SC, Bianca Borges Henry of New York City, NY, and Leah Borges Gangelhoff (Dan) of Birmingham, AL; and six grandchildren, Joshua Michael Logan and Chelsea Caroline Logan of Panama City Beach, FL, Sara Juliana Slonecki and Tyler Jordan Slonecki of Charleston, SC, and Emma Borges Henry and Ruth Borges Henry of NYC, NY. Wilburn was a graduate of Avondale Elementary School, where he attended annual reunions with his brother, Charles; Ramsay High School; Birmingham-Southern College; and Auburn University, where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was a member of the Electrical Engineers Society, Auburn Alumni, Tau Beta Pi, Civitan International, Alabama Power Company Alatalkers, National Management Association, and various civic organizations. For years, Wilburn was a volunteer at Baptist Medical Center Montclair, assisting on Four-West, where he was trained by his friend, Bernard Jones. Wilburn also served on the Volunteer Board of Directors. He served as President of the Tuscaloosa Civitans, was on the Tannehill Commission, and was a member of the Alabama Power Alatalkers, with whom he spoke before many civic organizations and school groups. He worked as Western Division Chief Engineer when in Tuscaloosa, and, following his early retirement from Alabama Power Co., he worked on an annual contract basis with the company. Following his graduation from Auburn, Mr. Sample received his graduate degree in Business Administration from the Alexander Hamilton Institute. From the time after he graduated from Auburn until his stroke in the 1980s, he always taught a Sunday School class in whichever city he lived. His faith was strong and a source of great joy to him. His walk with The Lord was known to all who knew him. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many who ministered to Wilburn: the members of the Friendship in Faith SS Department and the Agape SS Class of McElwain Baptist Church; his loving personal care assistants, Penny Agee, Celestine Collier, and Vet Stanley; the caring staff of Fresenius Montclair Dialysis; the compassionate staff of Lifeguard Ambulance Service; the caring personnel of Alacare Home Health Services and of New Beacon Hospice. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening, November 10, 2011 5-7 at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood. Funeral service will be held at Valley Chapel on Friday afternoon, November 11, 2011 at 1:00 followed by burial at Forest Hill Cemetery. Services are the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (870-3401) Homewood.