Rev Dr. John M. Wilbur Jr.

The Rev. Dr. John M. Wilbur Jr. died Sept. 25. He was the former pastor of the First Baptist Churches in Beverly and East Greenwich, R.I. Other professional endeavors included a professorship at Harvard Divinity School, pumping gas and delivering mail for Packer Fuel. John was born in Atlantic City, N.J., and lived to be 85. He spent many years in New England and cruising the Intracoastal Waterway with his wife, Jane. Most recently they had lived in Vineyard Haven. Dr. Wilbur commented many times that he had lived a magical life. He spent his early years in the mid-Atlantic states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. On one of those early trips to Charleston, S.C., he met Jane Miller Anderson and they later married. They migrated north to New England where John entered Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre. While in school he served as the assistant pastor for the First Baptist Church of Newton Centre and they had their first two children. After completing seminary, John was called to the First Baptist Church in East Greenwich, R.I., where they lived for five years and made many lifelong friendships. The next step in John and Janes journey was to Beverly, where John took the helm of the First Baptist Church in Beverly, the church with the harborlight. Johns creative accomplishments throughout New England centered around service to youth, providing housing for the elderly, mentoring young ministers and personal counseling. Through these endeavors and his unusual gifts of preaching, John Milnor Wilbur touched many, many lives. John loved his large and exuberant family. His five children have lived all over the world and his six grandchildren have brought great joy to him, even in the last few months of his life. They include Cynthia Wilbur Thomas and her husband John Mitchell Thomas of Grand Junction, Colo., John Milnor Wilbur 3rd and his wife Beth Saint-Amour of Vineyard Haven, Heyward Brent Wilbur, Dean Gordon Wilbur and his wife Cricket Corwin Wilbur of Ipswich, and Ann Wilbur King and her husband Stephen Darst King of Saratoga, Calif. Heyward Brent pre-deceased John. His six grandchildren are Kelly Jane Wilbur of Boston, Nicholas Brent Wilbur of West Tisbury, Samuel Gordon Wilbur of Boulder, Colo., Stephen Darst King Jr., Caroline Bissell King, and Emily Marion King of Saratoga, Calif. In their retirement years, John and Janes charmed life continued as John pursued a dream and found a way to purchase a beautiful Grand Banks trawler, Dixie W VI and off they went. They cruised the East Coast and the Intracoastal Waterway for over 10 years, making and sharing many beautiful memories and friendships. Most recently they lived in their scenic home, Downaway, on the shores of Lagoon Pond in Vineyard Haven which John spearheaded the purchase of many years ago. John was able to return to Downaway in the last few weeks of his life. John is survived by his wife, Jane Anderson Wilbur, four grown children, and six grandchildren. A celebratory memorial service will be held on the Vineyard in June 2012. Memorial contributions can be made to one of the following organizations: Christian Youth Conference of Ocean Park, Maine, care of Bob Jope, CYC Dean, 16 Lindsey street, New Bedford, MA 02740; Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1197, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; or First Baptist Church, 221 Cabot street, Beverly, MA 01915.