Joel Michael Wilburn, 25, of Atchison KS was killed in an automobile accident Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 south of Atchison on US Highway 59.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Saturday, May 24th, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Robert Ziegler and Rev. Ben Ockree officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Friday, May 23rd at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to Mission Endowment Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church or to the American Legion Baseball Program and may be sent in care of the funeral home.  Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com

Joel was born on Feb. 3, 1989 in Atchison Kansas the son of Joseph “Jody” and Pam (Higley) Wilburn. He attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, graduated from Atchison High School in 2007, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies from Emporia State University in 2011. Joel worked as youth case worker for The Guidance Center, Atchison. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, the Chiro-Strong Bible Class, the Alpa Kappa Lamda Fraternity at Emporia State University, where he served as Chaplain of the Fraternity, on the Student Senate and on the Interdenominational Council. He was active in the Youth Group at Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia while going to college. He was the Atchison High School Football Videographer, was an avid baseball fan knowing all kinds of statistics and trivia. He enjoyed playing board games, darts and fishing with clients.

Survivors include his parents, Joseph “Jody” and Pam (Higley) Wilburn, of the home, a sister, Shanda Wilburn, and a brother, Jared Wilburn, of the home. Maternal grandmother, Linda Higley, Atchison, Paternal Grandmother, Dorothy (Hundley) Wilburn, Atchison. He was preceded in death by a sister, Alisha Wilburn, maternal grandfather, Charles Higley, and paternal grandfather, Earl Wilburn.