Douglas Gene Wilburn

In memory of Douglas Gene Wilburn, who passed away May 21, 2025 at the age of 81. He was born on October 21, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington to William Withrow Wilburn and Laveta Ines Thaut. Doug was raised in Orting and Puyallup, Washington. He loved sports and excelled in baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting, and spending time with his sisters, friends, and cousins. He had a good work ethic. In the summers, he would work in the berry fields and canneries and then go play baseball. He was fun-loving and had many friends.

Doug graduated from Puyallup High School. He enlisted in the Navy, serving in Vietnam. He attended college and graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. His career was as a police officer for the Seattle Police Department where he served for 23 years. He was an excellent shot and represented the Seattle Police Pistol Team in many competitions with notable success. Doug was a very good photographer, and he was also a big fan of the Washington Huskies, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Mariners, and John Wayne.

Doug enjoyed playing golf and was very good at it. After retirement, he moved with his family to St. George Utah to get out of the rain and play golf. He and wife Barbara rode their Harley Davidson motorcycles all around the country, and for exercise, they rode their Scott bicycles all around the St. George area.

Doug loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father and “Papa,” and a caring and loving son, brother, and uncle. He was also a loyal and trusted friend. 

Doug was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, having converted to the faith as an adult. Along with his wife, he served as a senior missionary in the Utah St. George mission, primarily in the Green Valley Utah Stake. He also served as an ordinance worker in the St. George Utah Temple. Doug was beloved by his friends and family and will be greatly missed by all.

Doug is survived by his wife Barbara Miller Wilburn, daughters Stacey Wilburn Girard and Maureen Wilburn Pola (Perry), step-son Regan Maloney (Carly), grandchildren Katie Pola, Perry Pola Jr, Mila Maloney, and Jaden Maloney, nieces Rhonda Collins Hopkins (Jerry) and Colette Witzel Pedersen, nephews Rick Collins (Nancy), Eric Josties (Robbie), Ed Josties, and Nick Gratzer, brothers-in-law Richard Collins, Robert Doud, and Mitchell Miller, sister-in-law Maureen Kuehne (John), and many other loving relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Joan Wilburn Collins, Wyonna Wilburn Josties, and Paulette Wilburn Doud, brother-in-law Michael Miller, and step-son Sean Maloney.

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Green Valley Stake Center at 511 South Valley View Drive in St. George, Utah on May 30, 2025. There will be a viewing from 8:30-9:30 am, service at 10:00 am, followed by a graveside service at Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George. Family will be served lunch at the church following the graveside service. 

Arrangements are made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St. George, Utah, (435) 674-5000. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LDS Charities c/o The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 50 E. North Temple Street, Room 1521/IRA, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.