Nathan Andrew Wilbur III “Nick” ~ “Pops”, 80, of Little Compton, RI died at home January 12, 2011. He was a 20 year Navy veteran, retiring as a Radarman, Chief Petty Officer (SS). He served in the Korean War, Bay of Pigs Conflict and Vietnam War aboard destroyers and submarines. He was the husband of Irene D. (McCloud) Wilbur to whom he was married for 47 years. He was the son of the late Nathan A. Wilbur, Jr. and Isabelle Barker and raised in Little Compton by his father and step mother Blanche Wordell Wilbur.
After retiring from the Navy he served the Town of Little Compton for a number of years, being the first full time police officer and achieved the rank of lieutenant. He was known to the townspeople as the “Town Cop”. He also worked at the Sakonnet Golf Club, Carter’s Fish Market in Portsmouth, RI and as a grounds Keeper at Sakonnet Point Farm in Little Compton.
A graduate of the Little Compton J.F. Wilbur High School, class of 1948, he attended URI and BCC Colleges. Mr. Wilbur’s hobbies included hunting which he did in his younger days with his Father. He was also an avid race car enthusiast having owned and driven stock cars at Seekonk Speedway. He owned and restored two antique midget racing cars which he exhibited at Old Timer’s Meets throughout New England. Weekly slot-car racing at his home and making model replicas of old midget racers were all part of his car racing hobby.
He was a member of the Fleet Reserve; Little Compton American Legion Post #37; Atlantic Coast Old Timers; New England Midget Association and had coached a girls softball team in Little Compton.
Besides his wife, he is survived by daughters Lisa Dawn Reidy and husband Stephen of Naples, FL; Tracy Lynn Resendes and husband Jose of Somerset, MA; and a son Andrew G. Wilbur and his wife Bridget of Brunswick, GA. He was the proud grandfather of grandsons, Stephen A. Reidy of Naples, FL and Jacob A. Wilbur of Brunswick, GA. In addition he is survived by two sisters, Faith E. Wilbur, her husband Peter D’Allesandro of Little Compton and niece Bianca D’Allesandro of Oakland, CA; Judith Beth Brayton of Little Compton and nephew David A. Brayton of Tiverton. He was the brother of the late Florence Cutter of East Greenwich and uncle of nieces Jill, Michele and Deborah.
Funeral to which relatives and friends are invited will be Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at the Potter Funeral Home at 10:00 A.M.
Calling hours Monday 5 – 8 P.M.
Interment in Pleasant View Cemetery, Tiverton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Citizens Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 928, Little Compton, RI 02837 or Little Compton Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 552, Little Compton, RI 02837 or Odyssey Hospice, 2347 Post Rd., Suite 206, Warwick, RI 02886.