Winter Haven - On May 17, 2010, Wilbur Bazemore went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ after a brief illness of cancer.

Wilbur was born in Lake Wales, FL on February  17, 1930 to Cannie and Mary Bazemore.  He graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1950 and joined the U.S. Navy where he served four years on the USS Mount McKinley.  He returned to Lake Wales and married Dolores Mann in 1955.  He worked 35 years for Tampa Electric Co. in Winter Haven. 

Wilbur served as a Deacon for 36 years at Inwood Baptist Church and Inman Park Baptist Church.  His family lived in North Carolina after retirement for 7 years and worked in the prison ministry and other volunteer work.  When he  moved back to Winter Haven eleven years ago he continued his work with the prison ministry and he was active ministering at the Florida Baptist Children's Home. 

He was preceded in death by: his mother and father, Cannie C. and Mary M. Bazemore; his son, Wilbur Timothy Bazemore; four brothers, Edward, Virgil, Gene and Roy Bazemore; and two sisters, Jamie Bence and Verna Brantley. 

Wilbur is survived by: his wife of 55 years, Dolores; his daughter, Lori Cherry and son-in-law Steve Cherry of Winter Haven; three grandsons, Kris Cherry and his wife Kerrie of Winter Haven, Timothy Bazemore of Vero Beach and Scott Bazemore of New Jersey; and a great-grandson, Kaden Cherry of Winter Haven.  He was loved by his family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5:00pm till 7:00pm, Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven.  Funeral Services will be at 10:00am, Friday, May 21, 2010 in the Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow at Auburndale Memorial Park. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Florida Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 1870, Lakeland, FL  33802.  Condolences may be sent at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.