Wilborn Harrison Elliott passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he closed his eyes to his earthly home on Thursday, June 18, 2020; he was 95. Wilborn was born to Edith Blaine Elliott and Chester Harrison Elliott on April 17, 1925 in Fort Stockton, Texas and was the second of four brothers and sisters.
Wilborn was buried next to his mother, Edith Blaine Elliott, on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Alpine, Texas. A celebration of life with military honors will be held at a future day and time.
In Wilborn’s early years, he lived in the area that became the Big Bend National Park, at San Vincente, which is a small settlement near the hot springs, located 90 miles south of Marathon. He started attending school at San Vincente and finally attended and graduated in 1943 from McCurdy Mission School in Española, New Mexico before returning to Texas.
At the age of 18, Wilborn entered The United States Navy in California during WWII and was stationed at Pearl Harbor as an aviation torpedo-man for three years. Upon leaving the United States Navy in 1946, Wilborn returned to Alpine and later moved to Casa Piedra, located 50 miles south of Marfa, where he settled into farming, raising cattle and his true passion, beekeeping.
In 1999, he sold his property in Casa Piedra and retired to Marfa, Texas. Wilborn did not retire from his true passion of beekeeping as well as producing farm fresh eggs. From 1999 to 2014, Wilborn continued to produce the “Best Honey in Texas,” selling his incredible honey and eggs at the Marfa Farm Stand where he made many dear and wonderful friends. Wilborn was truly a Marfa “old-timer!”
Wilborn is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Stanley McMillen Elliott.
Those left to honor and cherish the memory of Wilborn are his sisters: Joy Elliott Rawls of Stephenville, Texas and Wilma Henrietta Duty of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; ten nieces and nephews; and all his beloved and wonderful friends.
Online condolences may be left at www.alpinememorialfuneralhome.com
Services have been entrusted to Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.