Jack Lilburn

Jack Howard Lilburn, of Nowata Oklahoma, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Monday, November 10th. Jack was born in Nowata on May 15, 1924. He graduated from Nowata High School in 1942 and trained at the National Youth Administration schools in Muskogee and Okmulgee, Oklahoma in Arc Welding. Upon graduation he worked at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California building "Liberty" ships until he was drafted. Jack was a decorated Army Veteran who served in the Pacific during World War II as a Radio Mechanic for B-24's after receiving training from the Mid-land Radio School in Kansas City in 1943. He completed his overseas tour of duty in New Guinea, Australia, Philippines and flew into Okinawa on V-J Day in 1945. He was married to Catherine Louise Glaze on August 11, 1946. They both attended NEO A&M in Miami, Oklahoma, and then moved to Norman where Jack received a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. His work took them to homes in Henderson, Borger, and Pasadena Texas, and then to Stamford, Connecticut and on to Mountain Lakes, N.J. where each of their five children graduated from the school system. They retired to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in 1986 and moved back home, to Nowata, in 2004. Jack was an accomplished trombone player in his youth playing both in the Nowata High School band and with the Fort Sill band when he was first drafted and reported to duty. He renewed his musical talents to play for the Nowata United Methodist Church choir until very recently. Jack was also an avid golfer, woodworker and a wizard at crossword puzzles. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Louise (Glaze) Lilburn; his son Robert E. Lilburn; his mother, Neva Rosalie Lilburn, his father, Everett A. Lilburn; and his sister Katherine Link. Survivors include son; Andy and wife Melissa, of Prattville, Al.; daughter-in-law; Jan Lilburn, of Boonton, N.J.; daughter Lisa Lilburn, of Nowata; son Steven and wife Carrie, of Princeton, Ma.; and son John and wife Sarah of Missoula, Mt.; 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; siblings, Bonnie Layton, of Bartlesville, Rose Smith, of Nowata, Carol and husband Lewis Smith, of Bartlesville, Nancy and husband Ron Summers, of Mission Texas, Ralph Lilburn, of Nowata, Jim and wife Linda Lilburn, of Nowata, Mike and wife Jane Lilburn, of Bartlesville; many other relatives and a host of friends. The memorial service will be held at Nowata United Methodist Church on 11/15/2014 at 5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nowata United Methodist Church or the Nowata County Museum & Historical Society. Arrangements are entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.

Service Details

Saturday, November 15th, 2014 5:00pm, First United Methodist Church Nowata