Fort Bend Herald, April 20, 2018:
James Wilton Bailey passed away peacefully at his home in Rosenberg on April 17, 2018 at the age of 89 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born November 28, 1928 in Madison County, Texas to Clark and Luna Goodrum Bailey. He grew up in Madison County and graduated from Madisonville High School. Wilton went on to graduate from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1949, earning a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Agriculture. After college, he met his future wife, Mary Lou Phifer, and they were married at Evan Chapel Methodist Church in Leona, Texas on June 27, 1953.
Wilton was born a salesman, first selling Ford farm equipment, and then owning his own business selling mid-size equipment trucks until his retirement. Wilson loved talking to people and never met a stranger.
He and Mary Lou had a cabin in East Texas for several years and enjoyed spending time there until he could no longer go. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was discharged as a Corporal. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the Lions Club for over 50 years and a member of First Methodist Church in Rosenberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark Bailey and Luna Goodrum Bailey Baston; his son, Brian Wilton Bailey; and his sister, Edna Bailey Young.
He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary Lou Phifer Bailey; daughter, Rebecca Bailey Zapalac and husband, Mark, of Orchard and their children, Dylan, Brody, and Elena. He is also survived by grandchildren, Christopher Bailey and wife, Norma, of Virginia, Julia Kovacs and husband, Tyler, of British Columbia, Canada, and Haleigh Winfrey of Austin. In addition, he is survived by great-grandchildren, Alex Bailey and Isabel Bailey of Virginia and Matilda Kovacs of British Columbia. He is also survived by sister, Sue Batson of Madisonville.
Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.
Visitation will be held at Madisonville Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at at Evans Chapel United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. A memorial service will also be held at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg at a later date. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Mary Young, Gary Longbotham, Marcus Longbotham, Dwight Phifer, Forrest Phifer, Christopher Bailey, Dylan Zapalac, and Brody Zapalac. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Julia Kovacs, Haleigh Winfrey, Elena Zapalac, Alex Bailey, Isabel Bailey, and Matilda Kovacs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or First United Methodist Church of Rosenberg.
James Wilton Bailey passed away peacefully at his home in Rosenberg on April 17, 2018 at the age of 89 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born November 28, 1928 in Madison County, Texas to Clark and Luna Goodrum Bailey. He grew up in Madison County and graduated from Madisonville High School. Wilton went on to graduate from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1949, earning a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Agriculture. After college, he met his future wife, Mary Lou Phifer, and they were married at Evan Chapel Methodist Church in Leona, Texas on June 27, 1953.
Wilton was born a salesman, first selling Ford farm equipment, and then owning his own business selling mid-size equipment trucks until his retirement. Wilson loved talking to people and never met a stranger.
He and Mary Lou had a cabin in East Texas for several years and enjoyed spending time there until he could no longer go. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was discharged as a Corporal. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the Lions Club for over 50 years and a member of First Methodist Church in Rosenberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark Bailey and Luna Goodrum Bailey Baston; his son, Brian Wilton Bailey; and his sister, Edna Bailey Young.
He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary Lou Phifer Bailey; daughter, Rebecca Bailey Zapalac and husband, Mark, of Orchard and their children, Dylan, Brody, and Elena. He is also survived by grandchildren, Christopher Bailey and wife, Norma, of Virginia, Julia Kovacs and husband, Tyler, of British Columbia, Canada, and Haleigh Winfrey of Austin. In addition, he is survived by great-grandchildren, Alex Bailey and Isabel Bailey of Virginia and Matilda Kovacs of British Columbia. He is also survived by sister, Sue Batson of Madisonville.
Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.
Visitation will be held at Madisonville Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at at Evans Chapel United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. A memorial service will also be held at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg at a later date. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Mary Young, Gary Longbotham, Marcus Longbotham, Dwight Phifer, Forrest Phifer, Christopher Bailey, Dylan Zapalac, and Brody Zapalac. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Julia Kovacs, Haleigh Winfrey, Elena Zapalac, Alex Bailey, Isabel Bailey, and Matilda Kovacs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or First United Methodist Church of Rosenberg.
Fort Bend Herald, April 20, 2018:
James Wilton Bailey passed away peacefully at his home in Rosenberg on April 17, 2018 at the age of 89 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born November 28, 1928 in Madison County, Texas to Clark and Luna Goodrum Bailey. He grew up in Madison County and graduated from Madisonville High School. Wilton went on to graduate from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1949, earning a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Agriculture. After college, he met his future wife, Mary Lou Phifer, and they were married at Evan Chapel Methodist Church in Leona, Texas on June 27, 1953.
Wilton was born a salesman, first selling Ford farm equipment, and then owning his own business selling mid-size equipment trucks until his retirement. Wilson loved talking to people and never met a stranger.
He and Mary Lou had a cabin in East Texas for several years and enjoyed spending time there until he could no longer go. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was discharged as a Corporal. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the Lions Club for over 50 years and a member of First Methodist Church in Rosenberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark Bailey and Luna Goodrum Bailey Baston; his son, Brian Wilton Bailey; and his sister, Edna Bailey Young.
He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary Lou Phifer Bailey; daughter, Rebecca Bailey Zapalac and husband, Mark, of Orchard and their children, Dylan, Brody, and Elena. He is also survived by grandchildren, Christopher Bailey and wife, Norma, of Virginia, Julia Kovacs and husband, Tyler, of British Columbia, Canada, and Haleigh Winfrey of Austin. In addition, he is survived by great-grandchildren, Alex Bailey and Isabel Bailey of Virginia and Matilda Kovacs of British Columbia. He is also survived by sister, Sue Batson of Madisonville.
Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.
Visitation will be held at Madisonville Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at at Evans Chapel United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. A memorial service will also be held at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg at a later date. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Mary Young, Gary Longbotham, Marcus Longbotham, Dwight Phifer, Forrest Phifer, Christopher Bailey, Dylan Zapalac, and Brody Zapalac. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Julia Kovacs, Haleigh Winfrey, Elena Zapalac, Alex Bailey, Isabel Bailey, and Matilda Kovacs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or First United Methodist Church of Rosenberg.
James Wilton Bailey passed away peacefully at his home in Rosenberg on April 17, 2018 at the age of 89 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born November 28, 1928 in Madison County, Texas to Clark and Luna Goodrum Bailey. He grew up in Madison County and graduated from Madisonville High School. Wilton went on to graduate from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1949, earning a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Agriculture. After college, he met his future wife, Mary Lou Phifer, and they were married at Evan Chapel Methodist Church in Leona, Texas on June 27, 1953.
Wilton was born a salesman, first selling Ford farm equipment, and then owning his own business selling mid-size equipment trucks until his retirement. Wilson loved talking to people and never met a stranger.
He and Mary Lou had a cabin in East Texas for several years and enjoyed spending time there until he could no longer go. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was discharged as a Corporal. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the Lions Club for over 50 years and a member of First Methodist Church in Rosenberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark Bailey and Luna Goodrum Bailey Baston; his son, Brian Wilton Bailey; and his sister, Edna Bailey Young.
He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary Lou Phifer Bailey; daughter, Rebecca Bailey Zapalac and husband, Mark, of Orchard and their children, Dylan, Brody, and Elena. He is also survived by grandchildren, Christopher Bailey and wife, Norma, of Virginia, Julia Kovacs and husband, Tyler, of British Columbia, Canada, and Haleigh Winfrey of Austin. In addition, he is survived by great-grandchildren, Alex Bailey and Isabel Bailey of Virginia and Matilda Kovacs of British Columbia. He is also survived by sister, Sue Batson of Madisonville.
Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.
Visitation will be held at Madisonville Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at at Evans Chapel United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. A memorial service will also be held at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg at a later date. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Mary Young, Gary Longbotham, Marcus Longbotham, Dwight Phifer, Forrest Phifer, Christopher Bailey, Dylan Zapalac, and Brody Zapalac. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Julia Kovacs, Haleigh Winfrey, Elena Zapalac, Alex Bailey, Isabel Bailey, and Matilda Kovacs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or First United Methodist Church of Rosenberg.
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