Wilburn Sprague
d. January 2, 2012
Wilburn Doyle "W.D." Sprague, 93, a resident of Buffalo, Iowa died on Monday, January 2, 2012 at his home in the presence of his two sons, a grandson and a great-grandson. Doyle loved his family. He was always willing to help a neighbor or friend. Doyle never knew a stranger.
His funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 6, 2012 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Buffalo. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to WDLM Radio of Moline, Illinois or the Salvation Army.
He was born May 9, 1918 in Dewey, Oklahoma, the son of Ernest Howard and Viney Elizabeth (Brown) Sprague. On December 24, 1950, he was united in marriage to Ruth Marie White in Green Top, Missouri.
W.D. was a journeyman plasterer for over 75 years and a life member of the Plasterer's Union. During the Great Depression, he worked for CC Camps. During his life, he also worked at the United Cork Company, the Bendix Corporation, Low-Temp Insulation and the Martin-Marietta Corporation of Buffalo. Following his retirement, he worked for the Ernest Grilk Interior Decorating Company.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. Doyle was a golden glove light-weight boxing champion. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal
Doyle was a long term member, elder, trustee and Sunday-School teacher of the Buffalo Friends Church. A life highlight for Doyle was a trip to Israel with his brother, Wesley. He was also a member of the Buffalo School Board in earlier years and the Masonic Lodge.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Ruth; his daughter, Vicki (Dennis) Palmer of Aledo, Illinois; his sons, Daniel J. Sprague of Buffalo and Douglas D. (Kimberly) Sprague of Blue Grass, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; his sister, Naomi (Russell) Palmer of Wickenburg, AZ; his brother, Richard L. (Margie) Sprague of Geneseo, Illinois; and many other relatives and wonderful friends.
He was preceded in death by his children from an earlier marriage, Janet Murphy and an infant son, Steven; and his brothers, T.C. Sprague, E.J. Sprague and Wesley Sprague.