Wilbur Ricks, 91, of Creston, died Sunday, December 2, 2012 at his home in Creston.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 8, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Creston. Pastor Gideon Gallo and Rev. Jim Morris will officiate. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at Greenlawn Cemetery in Afton, with graveside military rites by the Creston Theodore J. Martins V.F.W. Post #1797 and the Afton John B. Parks V.F.W. Post #8882. Open visitation will be from 2-8:00 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2012, at the Powers Funeral Home junction of highways 34 and 25 in Creston, with family receiving friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be directed to the Afton United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Creston. Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.

Wilbur Franklin Ricks was born to Arthur O. and Nellie R. (Hamilton) Ricks on December 8, 1920, and passed away in his home from natural causes on December 2, 2012, at the age of 91 years. He was raised in farming communities in Harrison and Montgomery Counties, experiencing the Great Depression during his teenage years. He helped his father operate a steam threshing crew. He graduated from high school in Stennett, Iowa, in 1939 as the Valedictorian of his class of 3. He enrolled in Simpson College, and later transferred to Iowa State University to major in engineering. His education was interrupted by World War II, and he answered the call to service by joining the U.S. Air Force. He served as a gunnery instructor for B-24 squadrons, from a base in Harlingen, Texas.