Wilber Ray Kaylor

1935 - 2021

Wilber Ray Kaylor

Springfield - Wilber Ray Kaylor, 85, Springfield, MO, passed away July 4, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born July 28, 1935 in Joplin, MO to Raymond and Dorothy (Wisdom) Kaylor. Wilber was employed by Roadway Express for 40 years in a variety of roles and was the Maintenance Coordinator of the Strafford, MO terminal at the time of his retirement.

Wilber was a member of the Christian Church for many years in several locations, most recently Southland Christian Church in Springfield, MO. Prior to that he was a founding member of the Story Road Christian Church in Irving, TX. Wednesdays he could be found playing cards with fellow Empty Nesters.

Wilber enjoyed being busy and had a variety of hobbies and pastimes. From his youth, he enjoyed singing in school choral groups and later in gospel quartets, the church choir, and barbershop quartets. He enjoyed reciting poetry, like "The Walloping Window Blind," to his children and grandchildren.

Like his father, he enjoyed woodworking and being shade tree mechanic. Wilber was an active member of the Ozark Trails Studebaker Club, owning and showing his '62 Gran Turismo Hawk and 1950 Champion. Wilber loved to travel, and kept a busy social schedule. He was always ready to make homemade vanilla ice cream to share and enjoy.

Wilber was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joanne Thomas Kaylor, his older brother Loren Kaylor, and great-granddaughter Shelby Paige Grover. He is survived by his three daughters-Kathy Grover (Dennis), Christy Wall (Keith), and Karen Kaylor; five grandchildren-Lee Grover (Nicole), Tony Grover (Amy), Kenny Strobeck (Kerri), Tammy Jones (Nate), and Kaylor Keltner (Brett); seven great-grandchildren-Abigail Strobeck, Parker Strobeck, Mason Strobeck, Quincey Grover, Caleb Grover, Hudson Grover, and Gabriel Jones; two sisters-Sue Holland (Jim), and Judy Howerton; and special ones-Sue Malina, and Ryan McDonald. He loved us well and was well-loved in return.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at the GAR Cemetery in Miami, OK. In lieu of a visitation a celebration of life ice cream social will be held Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 2-4 p.m. at Southland Christian Church in Springfield, MO.

Donations in Wilber's memory can be made to The Muscular Dystrophy Association or to St Jude's Children Hospital. Both have been blessings to Wilber's family.