Wilbern Boatright was born on September 12, 1912, in Galatia, Saline County, to Mack Boatright (1872-1951) and Cora Jane Blackburn (1875-1945).
When the 1920 federal census was taken, Wilbern’s parental family was living in Brushy, Saline County, on a farm owned by his parents. His parents were then in their 40’s and his father was farming for a living. Wilbern was aged 7 and had four brothers living at home. Brother Roy was 19 and teaching public school, Lloyd was 17 and a farm laborer, Leman was 14, attending school, and Walter was 2.
By the 1930 census, Wilbern’s parental family had moved to Marion and was living at 701 N. Garfield Street. His parents then were in their 50’s and his father was still farming for a living as he had done before. Brother Roy was still living at home and teaching school at age 30. Wilbern was then aged 17. Also present in the home was a grand-daughter of Mack’s named Vivian M. Boatright, aged 6, who belonged to Mack’s son,Lloyd Boatright.
The family noted on their 1940 census that in 1935 they had returned to live in Saline County to live, but later returned to Marion. I suspect that a lack of jobs in Marion during the depression forced this temporary move back to their home turf for farm work.
In the 1940 census, the family had returned to the parental family home in Marion at 701 N. Garfield. It was then free of mortgage and the home was valued at $1,100. Wilbern’s parents were then in their sixties and didn’t list an occupation, but indicated they were self-employed. Wilbern was the only dependent listed and was 27. He listed his occupation as teacher and indicated that he had worked 26 weeks the previous year of 1939 and had made $400.
Wilbern married Lorene G. Ozment on November 1, 1941, in Charleston, Missouri. Lorene was born on June 23, 1921 in Johnston City and was the daughter of Loren Ozment and Lucy Cummins.
In 1948, Wilbern and Lorene purchased their first home at 900 E. Boulevard.They had two daughters named Gail Ann Boatright and Janice Lynn Boatright.
Mr. Boatright worked in the Marion School System for 42 years as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and for nine years as Marion Junior High coach. While serving as Marion Junior High coach in 1944, the team won the Junior High Basketball State Championship.
When the rudiments of the Marion Recreation Department were being formed in 1944, Wilburn Boatright, conducted the program and provided supervision on a volunteer basis. Boatright went on to become principal of Jefferson School, the Marion Junior High School, and ended his professional education career as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education of Marion Community Unit Number Two.
According to an article written in 2008 by Ray Hancock, “Boatright was a mentor for two succeeding Marion Recreation Directors, Ray Hancock and Wes Deaton, and was a contemporary of another director, A. C. “Cliff” Storme. Boatright’s impact on the quality of life of the entire Marion area has been obscured by time and insufficient preservation of Marion history.”
At the end of three years of programming by the volunteer City Recreation Council, the group ran out of money and ceased operations in 1946 because they had no money and no facilities. The Marion Lions Club then financed and operated the program for a year or two, possibly into 1948, and Wilburn Boatright continued to volunteer his time and skill to lead the program.
He originated the gifted program in Marion and the baseball program for the youth of Marion sponsored by the Lions Club.
In 1962, Wilbern and Lorene purchased a new family home at 610 S. Hadfield Street and remained there for over 30 years.
His memberships within the education field included being a life member of the NEA and IEA, Retired Teacher Organization, Williamson County Retired Teachers, a member of SIU Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa Education Fraternity since 1971 and listed in Who’s Who among Educators of the Mid West. Wilbern was a charter member and past president of the Kiwanis Club in Marion.
Boatright was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marion where he was a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon.
In 1999, both Wilbern and Lorene moved to a care facility in Mt. Vernon so they could be near his daughter Jan Steffy. His wife, Lorene, preceded him in death by cancer on September 7, 1999.
Wilbern Boatright, age 89, formerly of Marion, passed away at 9:25 p.m., Friday, July 19, 2002 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, due to a brain stem stroke.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brothers; Arvil, Roy, Lloyd, Walter and Leeman Boatright and two infant sisters.
Survivors included, two daughters and sons-in-law, Gail Ann and David Henard of Charleston (later Clinton, Illinois) and Jan and Bob Steffy of Mt. Vernon; six grandchildren, Rachel Seay, Tessa Volle, Frank Henard, Bill Martin, Jr., Mike Martin and Jeff Steffy; eight great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Alexis Martin, Hannah Seay, Audrey, David and Megan Volle, Londyn and Garrik Steffy; two sister in-laws, Mary Boatright and Maxine Clayton and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2002 at the Meredith-Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Rev. Fred M. Boatright and Dr. Joey Brent officiating. Visitation was from 5 until 8 p.m.. Monday, July 22, 2002 at the funeral home.
Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.
Memorials were made to the First Baptist Church of Marion or the Marion Youth Baseball and Softball Association.
(Data extracted from the Marion Daily Republican obituary, July 2002; an article by Ray Hancock, published in Marion Living Magazine, February 2008; Federal Census Records; Marion City Street Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 10/14/2013)