Wilbur E. Bibbee

Wilbur Bibbee, age 99 of Scottsboro, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at Southern Estates. Funeral Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 2:00pm with Dr. Steven Screws officiating. Mr. Bibbee is survived by his granddaughter – Julie (Russell) Gentry; grandsons – Steve (Diana) Buko and Randy (Mara) Buko; great grandchildren – Nancy Ann Gentry, Mary Kate Gentry, Stephen Buko, Morgan Buko, Spencer Buko, Mya Buko and Riley Buko. He was preceded in death by his wife – Geraldine Bibbee and daughter – Nancy Bibbee Buko. Wilbur Eugene (Gene) Bibbee, was know fondly by most as Papa! Gene grew up in Pennsylvania on a farm, taking care of his white horse Nelly and his Border Collie, Prince. He attended a one room school house, and said his sister was the only person in one of the grades. Gene entered the Army during the Depression and received an honorable discharge, along with a letter from President Harry Truman. He worked at the B&W Steel Mill during the war and made treads for the Army’s tanks, but wanted to reenlist to support his country. He was about to be deployed overseas when the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan. He came home and met and married Gerry Abend and they had one child Nancy Lee Bibbee Buko. Both have preceded him in death. He worked with Joe Namath’s father and watched Joe play high school football on Friday nights! And even witnessed the Steeler’s Imaculate Inception at Three River’s Stadium! When Nancy and her husband, Steve Buko and children moved to Alabama, Gene and Gerry retired and packed up to move to Alabama to be with their family. Gene loved living in Alabama, and loved gardening and mostly his family. He was a wonderful grandfather to Julie, Steve and Randy, as well as his great grandchildren. He spent many hours practicing football, baseball or any kind of ball with his grandsons and took trips with each of them to the battle of Gettysburg, Amish Country and Hershey, PA, and Graceland for a visit with Elvis! He was devoted to his family and although he was a quiet man, he was also a giant of a person to everyone who knew him. Kindness and love were shown in all he did! He would have been one hundred years old on Nov. the 10th, and always told us “he was hanging in there! The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 1:00pm until time of service at the First United Methodist Church.