Jonesboro,AR-- Retired Sgt. Maj. Wilburn Louis Kirksey, 89, died Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008, at St. Bernard's Medical Center.

  He served in the U.S. Army for 24 years. During World War II he served 44 months overseas with the 25th infantry Division, taking part in  campaigns in the Solomon Islands and Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star for Valor in combat, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal for Military Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous certificaes of achievements. 

  During his Army career he was assigned duty in Korea, Hawaii and various stateside posts to include post information non-commissioned officer at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and post information non-commissioned offficer at Fort Sill Okla.

 After Retirement from the Army in August 1967, at Fort Sill, he was employed by the Fort Sill Federal Credit Union for 14 years as a loan officer, while living in Lawton, Okla., with his family.  Sgt. Kirksey was a Baptist and a member of the American Leigon.

  In 1982 he was preceded in death by his wife, Cleida Belle Hill Kirksey. Sgt. Maj. Kirksey was also preceded in death  by his parents, Bert and Alice Kirksey; a sister, Dayle Looper; and a brother Jim Kirksey.

  He later married Ara Lamberson Neely of Jonesboro. They moved from Lawton back to Jonesboro 1989.

  Survivors included his wife, Ara Kirksey, of the home, three daughters, Janet Witte and husband, Charles, and Nina Hunt and husband, Melvin, all of Lawton, and Lynn Kirksey Miner of Eureka Springs; a son and his wife, Joe and Ursula Kirksey; a sister, Carmelita Roper of Imboden; three stepdaughters and their husbands, Noma and Larry Merrell, Dana and Gary Watkins, all of Jonesboro and Brenda and Charles Lynn of Haines City, Fla.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

  Visitation will be this evening from 5-7 at Gregg Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
  A graveside service will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lawton with full military honors.
  --Jonesboro Sun, Wed., Jan 9, 2008, contributed by Naomi Spence.