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Wilburn Hammack Shields
July 28, 1922 ~ November 7, 2017 (age 95) 95 Years Old Light a Candle
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Message from Robert (Bobby) Shields-Son of Wilburn H Shields
November 12, 2017 9:21 PM
Dear Daddy, The past few days have been a roller coaster for me; grieving is different for all humans. Not being able to speak to you these past several weeks and not knowing that you had declined to this point, and then getting the word that you had gone to be with your Jesus and see your dear wife and my mother (the prayer that I have heard you pray for the past several years)..and ultimately not being able to make the long trip to be at your funeral..that roller coaster has and continues to be so very difficult. One of so many things that I learned from you was the love and passion for dogs and the love and loyalty that they give to us. My current two dogs loved you and you loved them, so I have spent so much time with them this weekend...and that drew me close to you. Thank you Pauletta for calling me last week just before daddy left the hospital to be transferred back to your home and wait for what I believe you knew would be and ultimately was a quick calling of God to come to a much bigger home in Heaven; prior to Pauletta putting that phone to your ear she told me you hadn't and wouldn't be able to speak, but you could hear me. I just kept saying "I love you daddy"..."I love you daddy"...and all of a sudden and as clear as a bell...you said "I love you too". I know you worked so hard to speak those words, and I will never forget hearing your voice and the strong clear words of love back to me...the same words that you said to me every time we spoke on the phone or saw each other...thank you daddy for that gift!! Being 2000 miles away in California was always my dream; after one year at my first job as a Physical Therapist at Vanderbilt University Hospital, I'll never forget telling you and mama that I had accepted a Physical Therapist Position in Los Angeles..your reaction was "please don't go out there with all those "nuts".:) The smartest thing you ever did was marry my mother; things for our family were never the same after losing her in 1997, but you and I both decided to work hard to make the relationship that you and I had the strongest most loving it could possibly be. It took more work than you and I both imagined, but we did it, and for that I am so thankful. After arriving in California, I realized more and more..each and every day...how much you had taught me in my youth. Lessons of life that can never be gained from a textbook or friends...lessons that you taught me as we worked together in the field...garden...mines; still to the present I think about what you would say or do in certain situations and decisions that life throw at all us..whether it be in Webster County or Los Angeles. I remember one day as a young guy you told me to climb up on the roof of our home and clean the gutters; I knew when you said "clean" you meant it and I worked hard and at the end I was so proud and called out for you to tell you I was finished...you got on the ladder and inspected every inch of those gutters....literally you found 2-3 leaves max still remaining..you looked at me and said...Bobby...if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right. At the time I was devastated, but as I've grown older and taken on tough jobs at some of the most respected medical centers in the world as well as personal challenges...I think back to those gutters...and did it "right". When I was part of the Executive Management Team at Stanford University Hospital I often "pinched" myself and asked how did a little country boy get here; daddy you were a tremendous part of that success. I was fortunate to lead as well as be a member of many meetings while at Stanford..meetings and teams tasked with critical decisions..tasks that were incredibly complicated...difficult...time consuming. Individuals at the table that were some of the most respected and brightest in their field. There were times we would be "pulling our hair out" thinking how can this ever be achieved at the level of what we knew Stanford expected...basically get it right and get it right the first time. Daddy...during many of those "hair pulling moments", I would think of something you had told me growing up and suddenly I would say to my team members...you know my dad didn't have the opportunity to gain higher/formal education, but I know that if I put this issue or decision(s) that we couldn't figure out and applied it to the many difficult things you faced on the farm and in your life....I would tell them...this is how my daddy would have tackled it or this is the step he would take, and daddy they listened and often times followed your words and teaching. Daddy...thank you for your genuine tough love, teachings, and helping me achieve personal goals; goals that I would have never been able to achieve without you and mama. There are so many stories...you were a unique man...you worked hard and you were one of the toughest most serious individuals I've ever known; yet at the same time you loved nothing more than playing practical jokes and pranks on people...then stand back and laugh your head off while they were screaming to the top of their lungs at whatever "trap" or surprise you had waiting for them. It's not possible for me to put in words the unique man that you were and thank you for all your love and support. When my dogs and I came back a few years ago to help you...every night that I put you to bed I would either go watch TV, take the dogs out for a walk, and ultimately go to bed myself. Ultimately, no matter how I spent my time after helping you to bed, when I laid down in the bedroom beside you...I could still hear you praying out loud. Prayers of thankfulness, but consistently prayers that he was ready to go meet his Jesus and see his dear wife. Many nights I would get up from bed and kneel on the floor beside your bed...I would tell you that I heard you praying and that I knew you were tired and wanted God to take you to heaven, but we both knew that it would be his timing not ours. That time came for you last week, and I know you are with your Jesus and my dear Mother and so many others that you have been waiting to see. I love you daddy, and felt you just as close in California as I would have in the beautiful place called Kentucky. I, like you, have no idea when my day will come, but I know that when it does I will see you again; you and mama and all the other Dear Saints that have touched my life.
I love you daddy!
Your Son....Bobby
I love you daddy!
Your Son....Bobby
A candle was lit by Kathleen Robinson
on November 12, 2017 2:50 PM
Message from Peggy C. Cartwright
November 11, 2017 3:56 PM
Mr. Wilburn, you were very special to all who knew you. I first remember you as my bus driver in first grade. Terry Bumpus picked on me and I got in trouble, not him.....I thought lots of you then and always will. May you Rest In Peace 🙏🏻
A candle was lit by Daniel Goldman
on November 11, 2017 1:08 AM
Message from Daniel Goldman
November 11, 2017 1:08 AM
I am saddened at the passing of Wilburn Shields. My condolences go out to family and friends of the community who knew, and loved him so well. He was a man of strength, of grace, and wisdom, not seen so often anymore in subsequent generations. As his Son’s longtime friend, I know how much Wilburn and Robert loved each other, and how how fortunate Wilburn was to have a Son who has gone on to accomplish so much, to make his Father (and Mother) so proud. Robert had the rare opportunity to go back to Kentucky several years ago, and help his Father, when he needed it most. I had the privilege of meeting Wilburn on one occasion - he couldn’t have been more cordial and gracious to me. I listened in to the Father and Son Sunday phone calls...., Bobby was one of few who could make him really laugh. How grateful Bobby is that one of Wilburn’s last sentences was to him, saying, “I love you too!” May Wilburn Shields finally Rest In Peace, away from a troubled world at last. Sincerely - Dan Goldman
A candle was lit by Robert (Bobby) B. Shields-Son
on November 11, 2017 12:07 AM
A candle was lit by Jackie Grigg And Family
on November 10, 2017 1:26 PM
A candle was lit by Thomas and Leah Dugan
on November 9, 2017 9:32 AM
A candle was lit by Cardiology Consultants, PSC
on November 9, 2017 8:21 AM
Message from David Nally
November 8, 2017 10:24 PM
Wilbur was the best! A great mentor and dear friend. A wonderful wife and regular preaching served him well. Wilbur you'll be missed old friend. Relish that new home you've been looking forward to for so long. I'll never see another coon treed that I won't remember our many times running backwaters after barking walkers.
Message from Robert (Bobby) Shields-Son
November 12, 2017 7:50 PM
David....Daddy would have "loved" and "laughed" at the oh so true words that you state in your post; he truly considered you one of those rare/true friends we hopefully all find during this journey of life. Thank you for being such a great friend to him and all the kind and helpful things you did for him as he aged. I never really got to know you personally, but with all the "stories" and kind words that daddy shared with me over the years I feel as though I do know you and certainly know you were a true friend. Kind Blessings.
Bobby Shields
Bobby Shields
A candle was lit by Franklin big boy foster
on November 8, 2017 6:02 PM
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