Wilburn Tomberlin

Benton "Wilburn" Tomberlin, 85, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 while surrounded by his family. Funeral services for Wilburn will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 10th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Rev. Malcolm Butts and Rev. Allen Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Darien Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30 to 11 AM.

Wilburn proudly served his country with the Alabama National Guard. After his honorable discharge, he went to work at the Gulf Service Station and, later, Luverne Motor Company. He ultimately decided that he wanted to become a truck driver and went to work with Petrey Wholesale for several years. He finished out his working life with Johnson Logging, with whom he worked for 14 years before his retirement. Driving a truck not only provided for his family, but it also allowed him to visit many places he otherwise may have never had the opportunity to do so. However, even in retirement, Wilburn continued to keep himself busy with both his garden and his involvement with his church. He was an active member of the New Harmony Baptist Church for most of his life and a deacon for 52 years. He spent several years as the Lord's Supper Chairman, as well as the Sunday School Director and other jobs. There were few things he enjoyed more than serving his Lord through his church service and in harmonious fellowship with his church family.

Wilburn developed his respect and love for tending to the earth and all it provides from his childhood on the family farm in Rutledge where he was born and raised. That never changed throughout his life as he always kept a large and bountiful garden around his home so that he always had plenty of vegetables for both his family and friends. On Saturdays in the fall, you could normally find him cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide, which meant there was likely nothing he was more proud of than the five years his grandson spent in the Million Dollar Band! If you gave him a minute, he'd be sure to tell you about it! Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who always put his family first. Spending time together was the greatest joy of his life, whether it was celebrating special occasions, supporting every activity his daughter and grandson were involved in, or just basking in the peacefulness of quiet moments at home. Words could not possibly express how much he will be missed by all those who knew and loved him, but they are comforted in the knowledge that he is now hale and whole in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wilburn was preceded in death by his daughter, Debra T. Moody; son-in-law, Larry Wayne Moody; parents, Jim & Mae Stephenson Tomberlin; and siblings, Elizabeth Broadway, Frances Eiland, and Joseph Tomberlin. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Lalar Byrd Tomberlin; their cherished grandson, Vernon Benton Moody; great-grandpuppy, Reagan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Mike Byrd, Todd Parker, Blake Booth, Bobby Tomberlin, Lomax Tomlin, and Greg Evans.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all those who have helped care for Wilburn for creating such a wonderful support system for both Wilburn and his family: Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, Catherine Lisenbe, and Amanda Joyner; special friends, Janet Norred and Blake Booth; and caregiver, Pam Pugh.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Darien Cemetery Fund, c/o Anita West, 509 New Harmony Road, Luverne, Alabama 36049.