Wilmer D. Hines

Wilmer Dale Hines, died at Wyoming Medical Center on Saturday, July 21. He was born December 19, 1929 at Lumberport, WV the son of Bob and Roxie Hines. He graduated from Lumberport High School in 1947 and immediately joined the Army Air Corps for one day after which it became the US Airforce. He spent some time on the island of Adak in the Aleutian Chain and in Germany where he was a cryptologist. He was due to be discharged when the Korean War broke out and those in the service were required to re-enlist for one year. He opted to stay for three instead of one and was honorably discharged in 1953 and again in 1957. He returned to Lumberport and was employed for a short while for the REA in Clarksburg, WV. On November 26th he married Ann Forlines in the Methodist Church in Lumberport. Shortly afterwards, he enrolled in Potomac State College in Keyser, WV under the GI Bill. After two years there, he continued his education at West Virginia University graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Agriculture and Forestry. Upon completion, he was employed with the Soil Conservation of the United States Department of Agriculture in Lewisburg where his first son, Drew was born and then to Lewisburg, WV continuing with the Soil Conservation Service and our second son, Craig was born.

He was offered a job in Easton, MD with Farmers Home Administration where he was office manager in Easton and Denton, MD. He covered the states of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. It was while where he was there that he accepted an offer to work in the National Office in Washington D.C. as a Business Industrial and Loan Officer. While there, he once again pursued his education at American University. The family remained in Eason and he commuted to D.C. seventy five miles one way to work.

In 1979 he transferred to Casper, Wyoming. He and Ann fell in love with the state and decided this would be their home for the remainder of their lives. Both were avid birders although he said he as the chauffer and Ann was the birder. They traveled to all corners of the state and many other states looking and observing birds.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Elks Club, NARFE and a life member of Lions International, Murie Chapter of National Audubon and been a driver for Meals on Wheels for over twenty five years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hines, three brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife, son Craig of Casper and son Drew of Pine River, MN, one sister in law Susan Hines of Deerfield, FL along with numerous nieces and nephews.