Published
2 years agoon
Wilburn L. Poole, a Fresno State graduate who built thousands of homes in western states and headed the Building Industry Association in the San Joaquin Valley, died Sunday in Joplin, Missouri. He was 84.
According to obituary information provided by his family to the Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City, Missouri, Mr. Poole was born in Huffman, Arkansas on Aug. 27, 1937. He attended Couch High School in Missouri and then served in the Air Force and Army Reserve. Mr. Poole later earned a bachelor of science degree in business finance at Fresno State.
As owner of Monte Vista Development Corp., Mr. Poole built more than 4,000 homes in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho. He was president of the Building Industry Association in the San Joaquin Valley and former vice-president of Wells Fargo Bank in Redwood City.
He married his wife, Lois Beavers, in Reno in October 1971, and the couple raised their family of three sons, including former NFL player Keith Poole who starred at Clovis High School, and a daughter. His survivors include his wife and children, four grandchildren, and his brother, Dennis Poole of Clovis.
His hobbies included deer hunting on his ranch in Missouri and traveling. Mr. Poole also was a member of the Elks Fraternal Organization.
A graveside service with military honors is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Saturday at Andelin Family Cemetery in Pierce City, with Elder Brandon Fordham of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiating. Arrangements are by Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email