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Wiley Hilburn Obituary
Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr. of Choudrant, a journalist and professor, died Jan. 16 in Ruston after a brief illness. Hilburn was born Feb. 20, 1938 in Ruston. He was 75.
Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Presbyterian Church of Ruston with the Rev. Edith Hill officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home.
He is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and LSU.
Hilburn began his career in journalism as a teenager at The Ruston Daily Leader and later worked for The Shreveport Times and The Monroe News-Star.
But the bulk of his career was given to Tech, where he chaired the journalism department and directed the news bureau for more than 40 years. Upon his retirement from Tech in 2009, he was named professor emeritus and in 2010 was named Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Liberal Arts. His is also a member of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career and until his death, Hilburn also wrote a weekly column published by The News-Star and The Times.
Survivors include: his wife Kate Sartor; his three children Anne Marie Hilburn of Ruston, Kevin Hilburn of Ruston and Greg Hilburn of Monroe and their mother Ellen LaCroix; his stepdaughter Jenny O'Driscoll of Lawrence, Kan.; his brother Chet Hilburn of Houston; his daughters-in-law Holley Hilburn of Ruston and Tania Hilburn of Monroe; his grandchildren Steven Ledford of Choudrant, William Ledford of Choudrant and Seth Hilburn of Choudrant and twin granddaughters Shyla and Shyenne Hilburn of Monroe; his mother- and father-in-law C. Lane and Gloria Sartor of Shreveport; and his dog Winston.
Hilburn was preceded in death by his parents Marie and Wiley Wilson Hilburn Sr. of Ruston.
Pallbearers include his sons Kevin and Greg, his grandson Seth, his brother Chet and friends Malcolm Butler and George Butler.
Memorials may be made to the University of Arkansas Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
Kilpatrick Funeral Home
Ruston, LA
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Memories and Condolences
for Wiley Hilburn
Jim Brown
January 12, 2021
I just reread Wiley's informative and enjoyable book, "Fragments." We sure don't have perceptive columnists and political observers like Wylie around Louisiana today. Younger people who are interested in North Louisiana and state politics would do well to read Wiley's book. He passed away way too young, and so many of us miss him.
Janet Pumphrey
January 19, 2014
Dear Kate, My sister forwarded me your husband's obituary. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. What a full and wonderful life he had. Fondly, Janet Hetherwick Pumphrey ([email protected])
John Hill
January 18, 2014
Wiley's mentoring extended far beyond his students at Tech. During our long professional relationship, whenever an irritated governor or any other politician took after me, Wiley would inevitably call me from Ruston to offer words of encouragement. When he was writing editorials for the Shreveport and Monroe papers, and I was the correspondent in the State Capitol, we talked frequently, as he always wanted to make sure his observations from afar were on the mark. They inevitably always were. We loved to laugh and gossip about the foibles of our working in a public arena. That gift of giving a boost to those around him in the world of journalism lives on in his son, Greg, who has that some buoyant personality that just makes you smile and feel better. Just Goggle Wiley and you'll see how many papers in the South carried his obituary. I look forward to joining all those who loved, admired and were encouraged by Wiley through his decades of a stellar career. I hope that the outpouring of love and admiration is comforting to his family. There was no finer columnist in the state of Louisiana.
Phala Wright
January 18, 2014
A wonderful man is no longer with us. We so enjoyed Wiley's writings, including his book which I treasure…We have so much respect for Wiley and his family which he truly loved. God's blessings as you walk into the tomorrows with wonderful memories.
Melissa Scallan
January 18, 2014
Greg and Tania,
I am so sorry to hear about Wiley's passing. He was a great journalist and father and I know you will miss him very much. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Love to you both.
Carole Ann Kaplan
January 18, 2014
With sincere sympathy to the Hilburn family. May you be comforted by memories shared together. Wiley's legacy will live on, not only in the written word, but in the hearts and minds of those he influenced.
January 18, 2014
Anne Marie, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad--my prayers go out for you and your family--God bless!! Ron Badgley
Ann Smith
January 18, 2014
Words fail to express our sorrow, prayers are going out to Wiley's family and many many friends. You will be missed my friend.
Scott Booth
January 18, 2014
Now Bootsie has the rest of the story. Condolences to the Hilburn and Barham families.
David Thiels
January 18, 2014
Greg, Tonya and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I will continue to keep all of you in my prayers for an outpouring of His incredible peace upon all of you in the midst of the grief over the loss of Greg's dad. Love you guys,
David ("Gumby") Thiels
Jim Brown
January 17, 2014
Wiley was a dear friend for many years. He wrote a number of columns about my years in public life. He will be remembered as one of Louisiana's great journalists, and a real Louisiana legend. I will miss our many conversations. I just had knee replacement surgery or I would definitely be at Wiley's funeral. My deepest sympathies to Kate and the Hilburn Family.
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