Wilbur Boone

Wilbur Lewis (Pete) Boone was born on October 7, 1926 in the Caddo Community, North of Ranger, Texas to Daniel Wayne Boone and Rosa Wessie Pearl Mitchell Boone.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2019, Wilbur at 93 years of age, made his final “bucket-list trip” to be with Jesus whom he loved and served with all of his heart, soul, mind, and body.  He is now reunited with Sarah, his wife of 71 years who passed away less than two months ago. He was weary from faithfully attending her needs for the past several years as she bravely wrestled with many health obstacles.

He was known to many friends and fellow ministers as Wilbur.  He was known to many parishioners as Pastor or Brother Boone. He was known to his family as Pete, “Dad” to his children, Popee to his grandchildren, and Dear, Honey, or Pete to his wife.

Wilbur’s life was marked with hardship and determination, the result of being raised by a single mom due to the premature death of his dad when he was only eleven. His family survived loss, hardship and yet success during the depression and difficult years that followed.  He learned early on from his mother how to pray and seek God. She taught him how to live a life that was surrendered to Jesus.

Wilbur served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy from November of 1944 until May of 1946 during WWII. He was the storekeeper and a gunner’s mate aboard the USS Wasp and saw plenty of combat against the Kamikaze fighter pilots from Japan.

Wilbur (Pete) Boone and Sarah Ruth Owens were united in marriage on September 30, 1948 at Rocky Point United Pentecostal Church by Rev. Alonzo Sides.  Wilbur and Sarah began their family very soon with their first-born son Randal. Wilbur graduated from North Texas State University of Denton, Tx around 1954. He taught school in Ft. Worth for several years before surrendering his life to the ministry of a Pastor for the United Pentecostal Church.  He was a licensed minister from November 17, 1960 until his death. Wilbur (Pete) and Sarah began their pastoral ministry in 1961 at Morgan, Texas followed by Comanche and Temple, Texas. They went on to pastor the congregation of Life Temple in Hobbs, New Mexico in 1986 where they continued faithfully until 2011. Wilbur was always a diligent worker, a wise counsellor, a preacher of solid Bible doctrine, and a pastor who worked hard to care for his congregation.

He never met a stranger, and was friendly, passionate, inclusive, loving, and fun as a Pastor yet serious about obedience to God’s Word.  He raised cattle on the side for many years, and although he loved doing it, he always managed to lose more than he made.

Wilbur and Sarah have planted at least 30 trees in Hobbs including a 25’ tall Burr Oak Tree that she started with an acorn in a pot.  He loved to plant trees and shrubs in the yard, while at the same time planting seeds of God’s word in the hearts of people.  He always had one eye focused on the present and the other eye on the distant future.  Wilbur always wanted to make life better for those he loved.

While being a bi-vocational Pastor, he worked for and retired from the State of New Mexico.  His relationship with God was well established and cared for.  In his last years you could often hear him praying diligently, worshipping and singing his way through the difficulties that life threw into his path.  He was a dedicated student of the Word of God who loved to study and share his discoveries.

This world has lost a friend and heaven has gained a ready saint of God who has spent his life preparing for this glorious transition.

Wilbur is survived by son Randal Boone of May, Texas; son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Phyllis Boone of Mountain Home, Arkansas; son-in-law and daughter Jim and Susan Tippy of Hobbs, New Mexico; son and daughter-in-law John and Caryn Boone of Lufkin, Texas; one older brother Troyce Boone of Ranger, TX; and one sister-in-law Mary Mitchell of Cypress, Texas.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren; and was preceded in death by his wife Sarah, one daughter-in-law Linda Boone and one grandson Cody Tippy; brother D.W. Boone and one sister and brother-in-law Tillie Marie Turner and Gordon Turner.