Dana Winston Wilbanks

The Rev. Dr. Dana W. Wilbanks, 81, died May 12, 2021 with his wife of 58 years, Linda Griffith Wilbanks, at his side. He was born February 26, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was predeceased by his parents Elsie Thompson and Thomas Winston Wilbanks; his daughter, Caren Elizabeth Wilbanks; his brother, Dr. Thomas J. Wilbanks; his stepfather, The Rev. Dr. Francis W. Pritchard, and stepsister Elaine Pritchard Bandermann (Volkie). He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, David Alan Wilbanks (Wendy); sister, Beth Wilbanks Robb; sister-in-law, Kathryn Jordan Wilbanks; stepsisters, Ruth Pritchard Dawson (Steve) and Lucy Pritchard Frost, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Dana retired as Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics at the Iliff School of Theology in 2005, having taught there for 37 years.

Dana graduated from Canyon High School in the panhandle of Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Trinity University (Texas), Master of Divinity magna cum laude from Union Theological Seminary (New York City) where he was the recipient of the Traveling Prize for graduate study, and a Ph.D. in the field of Christian Ethics from Duke University (North Carolina).

An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Dana served as Moderator of Denver Presbytery and as member and chair for national General Assembly Committees in the area of Church and Society. He was the author of "Re-Creating America: The Ethics of U.S. Immigration and Refugee Policy in a Christian Perspective," and co-authored "Decision Making and the Bible" with H. Edward Everding, Jr. He co-edited with Ronald H. Stone a book of essays entitled "The Peacemaking Struggle: Militarism and Resistance" which was prepared for the Advisory Council on Church and Society of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. He contributed articles to many journals and books, published book reviews, taught classes in local churches, lectured, and served on panels on such contemporary issues as international peacemaking, immigration, bio­medical ethics, sexual ethics, legal ethics, and race. He was a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Christian Ethics, and the Society for Values in Higher Education.

Dana lived in Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, New York City, North Carolina, and Denver. As a college student he participated in a ten-week work/study project which paired small groups of American and African students. His group helped build a school library in Liberia. This program had a major impact on the direction of the rest of his life. As a professor, he had a study leave at CIDOC in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and two six-month study leaves at Oxford University, England as a Fellow in the Center for Refugee Studies.

Dana was a dedicated teacher in the classroom and for numerous church congregations. He was a favorite of students. He was a loving husband and father, and a faithful friend. He enthusiastically enjoyed classical music as well as rock'n'roll, visiting art and history museums, running, baseball, Duke basketball, football, and travel. In retirement, he and Linda had many wonderful domestic and international trips. Dana was kind and generous, had an open, welcoming spirit, with a delightful smile and a gentle sense of humor. He is deeply missed.

A Memorial Service will be held later. If you wish, memorial donations may be sent to Iliff School of Theology, Dana W. Wilbanks Scholarship Fund, 2323 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, CO 80210.

Please share memories of Dana and condolences with his family by signing the Tribute Wall above.