NEW IBERIA — Funeral services will be conducted for Mr. Wilbert H. Eskine Sr., 76, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Evangeline Funeral Home. Fr. Ed Degeyter will officiate. Interment will follow at St. Helena Cemetery in Florence.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral home will reopen on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until services.

A native of St. Mary Parish and resident of Jeanerette, Mr. Eskine passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2008 at his residence with his family at his side.

Mr. Eskine was a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He worked as a boat captain, but was also a self-employed commercial fisherman and carpenter.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing cards with the family, and going to the casino. Wilbert was a devoted husband, father, grand and great grandfather, brother and friend who will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

Survivors include his best friend and wife of 54 years, Rita Migues Eskine of Jeanerette; his children, Wilbert Eskine Jr. and his wife, Lois; Kenneth Eskine and his wife, Cindy; Donna Eskine and her companion, Ovey Buteaux; Clyde Eskine; Glenn Eskine and his wife, Donna; and Lynn Eskine, all of Jeanerette; Johnny Eskine and his wife, RaMona, of New Iberia; Linda Bujan and her companion, Mike McNaughton, of Winnfield; and Joanna Oubre and her husband, Charles, of Loreauville; grandchildren, Janet Gaspard, Virginia Burton, Tony Eskine, David Eskine, Rachel Richard, Brena Romero, Sarah Eskine, Marisa Eskine, Brittany Eskine, Blake Eskine, Brian McClanahan, Ashley Allen, Kent Eskine, Chance Guiberteau, Brayton Eskine and Trevor Oubre; 13 great grandchildren with one expected in November; and his siblings, Celena Mae Bodin, Allen Eskine, Flavia "Bea" Schoest, Dorothy Donald and Catherine "Lainie" Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alcee and Celena Landry Eskine; brother, James Eskine Sr.; and sister, Barbara Ann Eskine.

Pallbearers will be Glenn, Johnny and Tony Eskine, Charles Oubre, Brian McClanahan and Mike McNaughton.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wilbert Jr., Kenneth, Clyde, Lynn, David, Kent, Blake, Brayton, Chance Guiberteau and Trevor Oubre.

Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.