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Wilbur A. Derringer, age 87 passed away Thursday evening, December 29, 2011 at the Grandview Health & Rehabilitation Center in Martinsville, Indiana. 

Wilbur was born January 13, 1924 at home in Brown County to Walter Ray and Lona Ruth (Turner) Derringer.  Both of his parents passed away from a flu epidemic when Wilbur was 5 years old.  He and his two brothers were taken in by other family members to be raised.  Wilbur was taken in by his Aunt Hazel (Turner) and Lewis Knose in Boone, Iowa.  He came back several summers to visit with his brothers and other family.

Wilbur graduated from Boone High School in Boone Iowa in 1942.

He was a veteran of World War II, fought in battles at Normandy France and Germany.  He earned three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for wounds and loss of an index finger which he made jest of over the years.  After the war, he came back to Brown County to live out his life on part of the family property.  He married Eva Mae Baines in Nashville on October 30, 1949, they divorced in 1979.  To this union there were two children, Jerry Wayne Derringer of Nashville and Doris Ann Brinegar of Bloomington.  They both survive.

Wilbur was an avid church member at the Morgantown Baptist Church, an avid euchre player and a long time member of the Oak Ridge Cemetery Association.  Family and friends will remember him as being very active in the Morgantown Senior Center where he served as the Senior Advisor on the Board and drove the van for the Center since 1999.  He enjoyed spending time at the Center telling funny stories and playing euchre.  He worked at Cummins Engine Company for 31 years, retiring in 1980 and then worked at the Morgantown Hardware store for several more years.   He spent most of his time in his woodshop, tinkering or making something, mainly building, repairing and refinishing furniture and other wood projects for anyone who needed something done.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Walter Asa & Verlis Cleo Derringer and two nephews.  He has four grandchildren: Eric Wayne & Jerry Douglas Derringer, Zachariah Daniel (Carrie) and Racheal Nicole Brinegar; great-grandsons: Jerry Alan & Joshua Douglas Derringer and Kai Zachariah Brinegar; nephews: Asa Ray, William Rex; nieces: Mary Gladys, Denise, Mary Ruth, Marjorie Ann, Rebecca and several great and a few great-great nephews and nieces.

The Rev. Ben Swopes will conduct a funeral service at 10:30 am, Wednesday at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center located at 179 E. Mulberry Street, Morgantown.  Friends may call from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Tuesday. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Brown County where military graveside rites will be presented by the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Wilbur to Morgantown Baptist Church, 109 E. Elm St. Morgantown, IN 46160 or the Morgantown Senior Center, P.O. Box 547, Morgantown, IN 46160.      

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.meredith-clark.com.

Information:  (812) 597-4670