Wilbur F. Yates

Wilbur F. Yates, 83, of Kilgore passed away peacefully on August 6, 2024. Memorial services will be held at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Kilgore, with Reverend Dr. Allison Andrews and Reverend Darwood Galaway officiating. Visitation will be the evening before, Friday August 9, from 6:00-8:00pm at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. 

Wilbur was born on October 30, 1940, in Tyler, TX, to Wilbur Gunnell Yates and Ruth Inda (Blount) Yates. He grew up in Longview, TX and was on the first ever Little League baseball team in Longview. He graduated from Longview High School in 1958. He started college at Kilgore College, followed by a brief time at the University of Texas where he walked onto the UT baseball team. He then transferred to Texas Tech University and found his never-ending love for the Red Raiders! He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a degree in finance in 1963. He went on to earn extensive graduate credits toward a master’s in business administration in finance at West Texas State University. 

Wilbur began his career as a U.S. Treasury Department Bank Examiner. It was in that role that he met the love of his life, Kay, while she was working at a bank. He asked her out to a Texas Tech homecoming football game and the rest is history. He went on to work in the banking business, first as Senior Vice President at American National Bank in Amarillo, before moving back to East TX and becoming the Chairman, President & CEO of Allied Citizens Bank in Kilgore, and then became the Chairman, President & CEO of City National Bank, also in Kilgore. In 1991, he left banking and became an Edward Jones Investment Representative, where he spent 29 years doing what he loved most, helping people plan for their future. He and Kay were also co-owners of Stepping Stone Preschool in Kilgore, which Kay directed. 

Wilbur served his community as a Kilgore City Commissioner, President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Kilgore Economic Development Board, and President of the East Texas Treatment Center. He was also on the board of Laird Memorial Hospital, Kilgore Economic Development Advisory Board, Gregg County Economic Development Board, Gregg County Medical Economic Development Board, Gregg County Airport Economic Development Board, and Meadowbrook Country Club Board. Together, Wilbur and Kay taught youth Sunday school at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, where he also served on the finance committee.

While Wilbur held many important and impressive titles in his life, his favorites were Daddy and Big Daddy. Family was always his first priority and he loved nothing more than having them all together, whether at home, at the lake, or on family trips. Wilbur was a man of faith, a supportive and loving father and husband, compassionate, brave, and he was a true champion. He loved hunting, fishing, golfing, and boating. He was the ultimate Texas Tech Red Raider, loved listening to Elvis Presley music, and watching John Wayne movies. He loved sports, and even played semi-professional baseball in Longview. 

 He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-three years Kay Yates, his mother Ruth Inda Yates, his father Wilbur Gunnell Yates, and his sister Leta Sue Fuller.

He is survived by his daughters Kara Yates Hood (Barry), of Lubbock, Kristin Ashley Marquardt (Danny) of Dallas, grandchildren Erin Hood Hawthorn (Forrest), Emily Hood Smith (Ian), Bryson Yates Marquardt, Gracie Kay Marquardt, great-grandchildren Paxton June Smith, Luella Grace Hawthorn, and Cooper Hood Smith, his sisters Faye Yates and Yvonne Chamberlain, brothers-in-law Jerry Chamberlain and Herbert Jones, and sister-in-law Marsha Jones.

Pallbearers will be Dick Bothwell, Joe Jansen, Lou McCreary, Glenn Phillips, Charlie Pratt, Jerry Ted Roberts, David Self, and Clyde Thomlinson 

Honorary Pallbearers will be Lloyd Bolding, Bill Cochran, Don Howard, A.P. Merritt, Tom Mobley, Eric Self, Steven Self, Mickey Smith

The family would like to give a special thanks to his wonderful caregivers: Julia Alexander, Mallory Fertitta, Patricia Harvey, Brenda Westmoreland, and Libra Woolridge. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Lukes Methodist Church in Kilgore or to the National Kidney Foundation.