Wilburn Louis Musgrave – formerly of Burnt Prairie

Wilburn Louis Musgrave, 89, formerly of Burnt Prairie, passed away at 9:02AM on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at St. Alexian Hospital in Hoffman Estates, IL. He was born on January 8, 1930, in Burnt Prairie, IL,  to G.A. and Ruth (Smith) Musgrave. He was later married to Betty Jean (Creekmore) Musgrave for ten years and had two daughters.

Wilburn was a veteran of the United States Airforce, serving his country, in Germany,  from November, 1950, to September, 1954, in microwave maintenance and was also the 8th Radio Relay Sq. APO 208. He also traveled to Europe as the equipment manager for the Landsberg Airbase baseball team.

When he returned from the Airforce, Wiburn and his brother, Leland, went to Chicago and worked on a farm in Sycamore, IL. After that, Wilburn found a carpentry job at Griffith Labs, went to night school, and became their master carpenter. Mr. Griffith would send him to Lake Geneva in the summer months to work on his deck, boat, and house. Wilburn was also a beekeeper for 55 years, known as the “honey man”. He enjoyed working with “his girls”, as he called them. In Wilburn’s spare time, he would come back to Burnt Prairie, IL and work on the farm with his brother Allen. He also had other interests like locksmithing, reading, being a handyman, and fishing in the US and Canada.

Survivors include two daughters Patricia (James) Bouchard of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Victoria (Gary) Rotell of Alexandria, IN, three grandsons Donald R. Busch, and Steven and Sean Niece, two great grandchildren, one sister Jane Sharp of  Lake Park, GA, sisters-in-law Phyllis, Pauline, and Chris Musgrave, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three grandsons Kyle Stott, John and Phillip Harlin, five brothers Allen, Dellos, Carole, Leland, and Coil Musgrave, and one sister Dorothy Mowry.

Funeral services for Wilburn Musgrave will be at 10AM on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield, IL, with burial in Simpson/Musgrave Cemetery, in Burnt Prairie, with full military rites provided by the Anthony Wayne Post #176 American Legion and the Wayne County Post #4535 VFW.  Visitation will be from 5-7PM on Friday, June 21nd at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to the Life Fellowship Church of God in Fairfield, and will be accepted at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.