Earnest Wilbur Suggs passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026 surrounded by his family at the age of 85 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for the past several years. Born in Wauchula, FL, Wilbur was one of nine children born to the late Rev. Benjamin William and Minne Mae Suggs. He was the last surviving member of his birth family.
As a young man, he served as a paratrooper in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The grace of God, along with determination, grit, and sheer stubbornness carried him through those years and served him well throughout his life. It was that same grace and determination later in life that led him back to school to complete his GED and helped him graduate with honors from an Auto Mechanics program.
Wilbur worked hard as a truck driver to provide for his family and was devoted to his late wife, Sharon Suggs. Together they shared 28 years of marriage and had two children, Julie Keaton (Sandy) of Hermitage, TN and Brian Suggs (Naomi) of Toronto, ON.
From the outside, Wilbur was a tough, strong man’s man, but those closest to him knew he cared deeply and felt things strongly too. He loved working on cars, collecting tools of every kind, and riding motorcycles. In his later years, his outdoor shed became his pride and joy and one of his favorite places to spend time. He also enjoyed teasing people, rough-housing with his children and grandchildren, and making others laugh.
Alzheimer’s changed much over the last few years of his life and brought many difficult losses for him and those who loved him. During that time, he was cared for with great love and sacrifice by his daughter and her family, who welcomed him into their home for as long as they were able.
He is survived by his children and grandchildren – Jacob, Savannah, Samuel, Kristina, Abigail, Avalynn, and Theodore.
His family will hold a visitation on July 1, 2026 from 12pm to 2pm followed by a service celebrating his life at 2pm at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home.
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This obituary was published by Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home – Nashville Chapel.
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