Wayne Gilmore

Opelousas Funeral services for Mr. Wayne McKinnon Gilmore, age 89, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at LA Memorial United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park. Rev. Pam Roy will officiate the services.
Mr. Gilmore was a longtime resident of Opelousas, and died on Sunday, October 16, 2011, at Opelousas General Health System surrounded by his family. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Born in Mount Hope, Kansas on November 7, 1921, Gilmore was the oldest of three boys. His parents were William S. Gilmore and Helen McKinnon Gilmore. His parents moved to Whiteville, Louisiana in 1922. He attended Whiteville Elementary, Washington High and Opelousas High School after moving to Opelousas in 1937. He served in the United States Marine Corps from September 1942 until December 1945 in telephone communications in the Pacific Theater. Returning home, he opened Browns Furniture in Ville Platte. In 1947, he married Vera Ruth Bourque.
Mr. Gilmore retired from Teche Federal Savings Bank, formerly First Federal Savings and Loan, where he served as president. Mr. Gilmore was the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Opelousas General Health System. He was the second chairman of the board in OGHS history. He has served on the Board of Trustees for over 39 years and on the Board of Directors of the OGHS Foundation for almost 6 years. He also enjoyed spending time with family, church activities and working in his woodworking shop.
To understand the heart and mind of a person look not at what he has achieved, but what he aspires each and every day to do. In a society of people who want to do good, Wayne Gilmore was living, breathing proof that taking a risk and going that extra mile are regular rituals of his everyday life. A familyoriented man who never met a stranger, Gilmores legacy is one of true service, service to his God, his family, his community, and his country.
In addition to his service to the hospital, Gilmore also served the following organizations: Opelousas Chamber of Commerce, Opelousas Lions Club, United Way, Opelousas Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Opelousas Rotary Club, Opelousas Industrial Development Committee, Louisiana Savings and Loan League, the St. Landry Chapter of the American Red Cross, American Legion, and Marine Corp. League. He also served on the Board of Directors for the OGHS Foundation, and was the Chairman of the Signature Gifts Committee.
Mr. Gilmore has been recognized as the Opelousas Citizen of the Year. This award is given to someone who has demonstrated an unselfish willingness to give of his or her time and talent in public service. He was also the recipient of the Service to Mankind Award, the Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, St. Landry Arts Association Award, Friend of 4H Award, and the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was a 50 year member of the American Legion and a 60 year member of the Red Cross.
As a member of the Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church, he held many positions from Lay Reader to Chairman of the Administrative Board and taught Sunday School. He was involved on the Conference, District, and Local levels in many ways.
Woodworking was not just his hobby, but another outlet of service. After work, he was usually in his shop completing projects for the Methodist Bazaar and for Cub Scouts or 4H members. Over the years, he personally assisted 4H students with over 1,000 woodworking projects, as well as being a 4H Livestock Project Contributor for over 25 years. He also built numerous toys for the mission work of a local doctor who travels every year to impoverished countries.
He was also very active in PTA at his childrens schools, and served on the Board of Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, LA, and a member of the Opelousas High School Booster Club.
Mr. Gilmore served the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant Scout Master and as District Chairman, Area Vice President and as a Member of the Council Executive Committee. The Evangeline Area Council honored Gilmore with a Silver Beaver Award and as its Distinguished Citizen in 1999.
Very involved in LSU Football, Gilmore assisted in organizing the first charter bus from Opelousas to LSU Home Football games in Baton Rouge. He was also a staunch supporter of ULL, formerly USL.
For nearly a half century, Wayne Gilmore has been an admired and well respected leader throughout the region of Louisiana known as Acadiana. He continued to play an active role in the growth and well being of his home Parish of St. Landry. Through his involvement with the American Red Cross he assisted in the evacuation of families during the devastating aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Strong will and a calm determination can be used to describe the leadership he provided in the relocation, treatment and associated medical services provided by the hospital, governmental services and law enforcement agencies. He was a shining, yet modest, example of humanitarianism at its best.
Leaving behind his legacy is his wife of 64 years, Mrs. Vera Ruth Bourque Gilmore of Opelousas and his immediate family includes daughters Cheryl Ruth Gilmore of Lafayette and Carla Claire Gilmore Schultz and husband, Donald Schultz of Opelousas and his grandchildren Jason Gilmore Schultz and wife, Katie or Hartselle, AL and Meghan Claire Schultz of Opelousas. He is also survived by one brother, Fred Gilmore of Lake Charles and a host of nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Sims Gilmore and Helen McKinnon Gilmore and one brother, Ronald Gilmore.
Visiting hours will be observed in the Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Wednesday, visitation will continue from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Gilmore family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Mr. Wayne to the Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church, Cerebral Palsy Clinic of Opelousas, and Opelousas General Health System Foundation.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
5 9 pmWed. 810:30 am

Service

Methodist Service

LA Memorial United Methodist Church
515 E. Bellevue Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
11:00 am

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial ParkH
4833 Highway 182
Opelousas, LA  70570