Obituary of Chester Harold Wilbanks Jr.

Chester Harold Wilbanks Jr. passed away on April 28, 2020 at his home in Owasso after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Claremore on July 15, 1946 to Chester H. Wilbanks and Samaria (Bear) Wilbanks who preceded him in death, also a sister and two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Owasso. They were married for 54 ½ years. He has one daughter, Barbara Ann Rutherford and husband Curtis of Collinsville; two granddaughters, Camille Elizabeth Rutherford and Anna Marie Rutherford both of Collinsville; sister, Charlotte Dodge and husband Bill of Tulsa; nieces, Kimberly Dodge of Tulsa, Marsha Wilbanks of Checotah, Kristina Wilbanks of Kansas City, Kansas, Vanessa Wilbanks of Shawnee, OK and Meagan Walker of Fort Gibson, Ok; two nephews, Dillon Wilbanks of Tulsa and Damien Wilbanks of Eufaula, and numerous cousins. Chester attended High school in Checotah, Ok. After high school he moved to Tulsa where he attended welding school. He welded for many years. When he quit welding, he started out calf roping, he did that for a while, then he changed to team roping. He did that until his health started declining. He loved team roping, he roped all over Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. He was a member of USTRC and Senior Pro Rodeo. He won lots of beautiful buckles, spurs, saddles, blankets, halters, harnesses, breast collars and won a horse trailer and a few saddles. Chester was not a person to set around, he was always doing something outside or building something in the garage. He loved gardening with his granddaughters. He taught them how to till the garden, drive a tractor and many other things. Chester will be loved and greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him