Grief

DAD'S FUNERAL MESSAGE

by Robert Wilber
07/27/24
Not For Sale

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Robert Wilber 7/27/24

I wrote this funeral message for my Dad as part of an assignment for a course that I am taking called “Church and Ministry” from Christian Leaders Institute.

Hello, my name is Robert. I want to welcome and thank everyone for coming out today to honor and celebrate the life of Robert Richard Wilber.

Robert Richard Wilber was born on Friday July 16, 1937. He was the only child of Elmer and Gloria Wilber. Robert lived in Rhode Island all of his life except for the four years he spent in the U.S. Air Force.

As a boy, Robert enjoyed riding his bicycle all around town. He would love to go fishing and many times would bring home his catch, so his mother could cook it up. His favorite fresh water fish were large mouth bass and trout. As Robert grew older he began to hunt, first with his father and then by himself or with one of his friends. He would help his Dad with small projects around the house and loved to work with his hands. When his father felt that he was old enough and able, he had Robert begin to help him with carpentry jobs around the neighborhood. Robert also enjoyed singing and taught himself to play guitar.

Proverbs 10:4 in the New Open Bible says:
“He who deals with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes one rich.” All of his life, Robert was a diligent and hard working man. Even as a young boy, he would cut lawns in the summer, shovel driveways and walkways in the winter and delivered newspapers year round. He never expected anything for free and was always willing to work hard to get what he needed.

Robert enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of eighteen. He served in the Air Force for four years as a mechanic of heavy machinery.
Since he had years of experience as a carpenter with his Dad, he wanted to do that in the Air Force. But, the Air Force did not have any need for carpenter's at the time of his enlistment, so he was trained for and became a heavy machinery mechanic and worked on large trucks and other equipment. He was stationed in New York, Louisiana, and a couple of other states. His final year in the Air Force was spent in the country of Greenland. He would always say that Greenland was the coldest place he had ever been to in his life.

When Robert was discharged from the Air Force, he came back home to Rhode Island and began his career in woodworking. He worked for a local company that made wood cabinets and wood boxes for all kinds of items. While working for this company, Robert would do every job there at one time or another. He worked cutting raw wood on a table-saw, using planner's, sanders of all sizes and types, used routers to shape the wood, assembly of the cabinets/boxes as well as applying finish to the final products. Robert continued at this job for most of his life. He was a very dedicated employee year after year.

Robert met my Mom on a blind date, setup by a mutual friend in 1967. Within a few months they were married. I was born in October of 1968 and my sister was born in December of the following year.

Each day of the week, including some Saturday's, Robert would rise before the sun had risen, get dressed, have his coffee and then head out the door with his lunch box for work. Some times he would be home for dinner. But, many times Mom would put his food aside and reheat it when he arrived home between 7 and 8pm. Although many may have considered Robert poor by societies standard, he was rich. Robert was always thankful to the Lord to have food to eat, clothes to wear and a dry, warm place to live.

Dad had dreams, some of which he was able to accomplish in his life time. One dream was to have his own boat. He didn't need some big boat to go on the ocean with. He just desired a small boat he could throw on top of his car and go fishing with it. One day he went to the local bait shop to buy worms to go fishing with. While conversing with the owner, Robert learned that he had a 10 foot John boat in his backyard, in good condition that he wanted to sell. Robert went over to the man's house and took a good look at the boat. Within a few minutes, with the exchange of $100.00 and a hand shake, my Dad came home with a boat tied down to the roof of his car. One dream fulfilled.

Years later, he would fulfill his life-long dream of owning his own home. Although he had lived in the Fairlawn section of Pawtucket, Rhode Island all his life, he finally found and was able to purchase a home in nearby Lincoln, Rhode Island. He was so thankful to the Lord for blessing him with his life-long dream coming true. Robert had worked hard, prayed and waited for many years for this dream to become a reality. Hebrews 10:36 says:
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Robert endured all those years of hard work, saving, praying and having faith, but, was rewarded wonderfully with a beautiful house in a quiet neighborhood.
Robert loved to listen to old time Rock and Roll, like Elvis as well as all kinds of country music. He enjoyed singing, playing guitar, and making recordings of him singing to his favorite songs. Some of his favorite artists were: Charley Pride, Don Williams, Conway Twitty and Hank Williams. He would always feel peaceful and relaxed when he would listen to and sing his favorite songs.

Even though Robert worked with wood all day, he still enjoyed the challenge of making something out of wood to use around the house or wherever. He also enjoyed fishing, both fresh and salt water. He had a habit of getting up early on a weekend morning, going for a long walk and then going to a local restaurant to have breakfast. I would accompany him, most every time he went. He also would frequently go, with the family, to local fairs where a country music artist would be putting on a show. It was a great thrill for Robert to see a live concert. One year, he was able to see Willie Nelson, live in concert in Warwick, Rhode Island. He enjoyed that concert the best. These are a few of the things Robert, my Dad would enjoy during his leisure time.

Robert gave his heart and his life to Jesus Christ in 1994. From that moment on, he was a noticeably calmer man. There was a peace about him, that did not exist before that point.

Robert left this life behind on October 16, 1996 and I believe that he went home to be with Jesus. Would you please join me as we sing “Amazing Grace” in honor of my Dad, Robert Richard Wilber.

And, the next time you hear a country music song, sing it out loud and remember Robert.