Wilbur Earl Earp

1929 - 2022

Wilbur Earl Earp, 92, of Winnabow passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at his home.
Wilbur was born Aug. 16, 1929, in a logging camp on the Black River in Pender County. He was one of four children of the late George Earl Earp and Edith Swain Earp of Winnabow. He graduated from Bolivia High School in 1947 and NCSU in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Industry. In late 1951 he volunteered for the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and was honorably discharged from the reserves in 1960 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He owned and operated Funston Farm, a recognized family century farm in Winnabow. In 1972, he was named Area Conservation Farmer of the year, in 2000, Outstanding Pork Producer in North Carolina and in 2013, N.C. Representative to the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the year. In 2018, Wilbur and his wife, Mary, were elected into the N.C. Pork Council's Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Willetts Earp; sons Dennis (Patricia) and Jeff (Robin); grandchildren, DC Jr., Josh, Wilbur, Henry, Mary and Helen; great-grandchildren, Allison and Aubrey; and his brother, Raymond of Beaufort. A graveside funeral service was held Wednesday, March 2, at Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery, Funston Road, Winnabow, with the Rev. Phil Norris officiating. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com for the Earp family. White Funeral and Cremation Service, Bolivia Chapel.