Obituary of Charles Herbert Bilbrey

Charles Herbert Bilbrey of Madison Mississippi, formerly of Bastrop, Louisiana, died at his daughter's home in Madison on December 3, 2010. He was born on November 12, 1925 in Chaonia, Missouri, the son of the late Charles Bransford Bilbrey and Elsie May Shelton Bilbrey. He moved with his family from Chaonia to Williamsville when the town was flooded by the building of the dam and Lake Wappapello. He attended Chaonia and Williamsville schools. He was working as a lineman for Western Union when he met and married his wife, Louise Ellington in Mer Rouge, Louisiana. They were married on October 16, 1948 in Hamburg, Arkansas. He was a devoted husband until her death, September 7, 1988. On March 3, 1949 he began working at International Paper Company's Bastrop Mill. During his years with the company he moved from Bastrop to Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Vicksburg, Mississippi and back to Bastrop, where he retired in 1985. He was the last person to leave the "Old" Bastrop Mill when he turned out the lights. After retirement, he and his wife traveled and enjoyed spending time with their children and four grandchildren. He was a charter member of Greenacres Baptist Church in Bastrop, Louisiana. He belonged to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Supervisors Club, Quarter Century Club, Lifetime member of the Pine Bluff Lodge #69, and the Good Sam's Club where he was a chapter president. He is survived by two daughters, Linda Louise Bilbrey Barnes and her husband, David of Tyler, Texas and Lela Kay Bilbrey McDonnell and her husband, Bob of Madison, Mississippi. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Linda Michelle Barnes Rowley and her husband, Keith of Nampa, Idaho; John Bilbrey McDonnell of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Angela (Angie) Kay Barnes Clements and her husband, Chad of Tyler, Texas and Sarah Reese McDonnell of Nashville. His six great-grandsons are Brandon Jacob Allen, Brandon Keith Rowley, Bradley David Allen, Blake Michael Allen, Parker Jackson Rowley of Nampa, Idaho and Caleb Michael Clements of Tyler, Texas. He is also survived by his sister, Lois May Bilbrey Johnson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and ten nieces and six nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one brother, Herman Clifford Bilbrey and one sister, Mary Lee Bilbrey Cowin. He also leaves his special little dog, Jack, who brought him many hours of joy. Pallbearers will be his great grandsons, Blake Michael Allen, Brandon Jacob Allen, Bradley David Allen, Brandon Keith Rowley, Parker Jackson Rowley and Caleb Michael Clements; and friends, John Bennett and Mike Boschetti . Honorary pallbearers are Richard Bilbrey, Wayne Goyne, Larry Godfrey. Special thanks go to Dr. Russell Young, Dr. David Flemming, Dr. Mark Klein, Dr. Harriet Jones, Dr. Greg Dickerson, Dr. Victor Weiss; the nurses at the Central Dialysis Clinic in Canton, Mississippi for their loving and tender care. Special caregivers were Kim Bishop, Lorrie Swilley, Kristen Deason, April Davidson, Frances Johnson, and Shirley Cross. Golden Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Monday, December 6, 2010 with funeral services at the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Christ Church Cemetery, Bastrop, LA. The family requests donations made to the Mississippi State University Baptist Student Union Building Fund, P O Box BU, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Checks should be made payable to MSU BSU.