Wilbert Garland Certain

Wilbert Garland Certain of Sturgis, Kentucky Born April 6, 1943 in Dekoven, Kentucky passed away at Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana on November 22, 2024.
Garland graduated from the Sturgis High School in 1961 and remained close to his graduating class throughout his life. He then continued his education at Murray State University, where he got his masters in mathematics. In 1965 he began teaching math at Henderson County High School where he also coached football. In 1966 he began teaching math at Sturgis Junior High and also coached basketball and football. He later became the assistant principal of Union County High School, and briefly was principal of Uniontown Elementary School. He also worked weekends in the Recreational Dept at Earl C. Clements Job Corps from 1968 thru 1976 where they'd work 39 hrs in 3 days! He also managed the Sturgis Housing Project and Kelly Brook Apartments where he still served on the board.
In 1977 he began his banking career at Farmers State Bank in Sturgis, which later became First Kentucky and then Integra Bank. He worked his way up to President and then Regional Manager of several branches.
In 2000 he founded United Community Bank and was its CEO and president until he retired in 2022 but remained on its Board of Directors.
Garland served this community on many boards and as a member of many clubs and committees, including but not limited to the Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Union County Economic Development Corporation, Union County Industrial Foundation, Elkwood Golf Course Board of Directors, Kentucky Bankers Association (KBA) where he served on their board for several years and as chairman in 2009 and 2010. He was on the Deaconess Union County Hospital Board of Directors and served on the Henderson Methodist Hospital Board of Directors for many years and as its chairman of the board for two terms.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Henry Wilbert Certain and Edna Ethel McKendree, a sister Joyce Price and husband Kenneth, a brother, Harold Certain and a baby sister Joann and wife Kathryn (Kat) Certain.
He is survived by his fiancée, Nancy Whitehead, a daughter, Cindy Morgan (Randy), a son, David Certain (Jill), stepdaughter Nancy Gibson of Henderson, stepson Bill Holloran (Shalisha) of Murray, stepson, Bob Holloran of Fenton MO, stepson Dan Holloran of Camden, Tennessee and sister Sherrie Williams (Stanley) of Tupelo Mississippi, sister-in-law Judy Certain of Cincinnati OH, as well as 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
We wish to thank everyone during this difficult time of the passing of Garland. We appreciate everyone that he has an association with that has reached out. He was well known in our community and in the Sturgis Church of Christ of which he was a lifelong member. Garland was fortunate enough to have many friends and family and many school, college & fraternity friends with whom he remained close.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday November 27th at 11 AM at Sturgis Church of Christ.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 PM Tuesday November 26th at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, KY. Visitation will then be held at 9 AM until service time on Wednesday at Sturgis Church of Christ.
Burial in Old Bethel Cemetery in Sturgis, KY.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sturgis Church of Christ at 801 N Monroe St, Sturgis, KY 42459, as well as New Pathways for Children at PO Box 10, Melber, KY 42069-0010, and Kiwanis Club at 711 North Monroe Street Sturgis, KY 42459.