Wilbur T. Scrivnor

Wilbur T. Scrivnor, age 95, known as “Webb” to friends and family, passed away Thursday, September 21, 2017.  Webb and his wife Norma lived in Grand Haven for 51 years.  They recently moved to Saline, Michigan to be near  family. He was born October 27, 1921 in Three Forks, Montana to the late Frank and Elsie (Frantom) Scrivnor.  The fourth of five boys, Webb and his family moved to Michigan City, Indiana for his father’s work on the South Shore Railway.  There Webb met and married Norma Elaine Lakey on January 28, 1945.  He would proudly tell you that he served his country in the Navy in the South Pacific, for “5 years, one month and 9 days”, during World War II, not that he was counting the days.

After the war, he went to college on the GI Bill and became a public school music teacher and earned a Masters of Music from Northwestern University.  He began as the head of music at Pfeiffer College in North Carolina and went on to teach in Seymour, Indiana and Muskegon, Michigan before coming to Grand Haven where he taught for Grand Haven Area Public Schools as the vocal music teacher for 18-1/2 years. He produced the school musicals and took the High School choir to Sweden and Finland.  Webb along with his wife Norma was an active member of the United Methodist Church.  He served as church organist for many years in several churches including the Church of the Dunes  and directed choirs. He and Norma also were members of many committees of the UMC serving as delegates to the annual conferences.  In his spare time he enjoyed writing poetry, sailing and for 70 years singing with barbershoppers.  He also conducted the Shoreline Barbershop Chorus from Muskegon and took them to the SPEBQSA international Competition. 

He retired in 1981 and began working as a freelance writer.  He self published his novel “Drako” at age 90 in addition to several books of poetry, a golf instruction book, “Golf is a GASS” and a transliteration of  18th century diary Judson Collins of the first  Methodist missionary to China.

He served as the editor of the annual anthology, Peninsula Poets, published by the Poetry Society of Michigan for 8 years.

He wrote the scripts for the annual Barbershop show in Muskegon.

Webb is survived by his wife of 72 years, Norma; daughter, Dawn Hertz and her husband, Dr. Roger Hertz of Dexter, MI; granddaughter, Kristin Ann Snyder and great-granddaughter, Jordan V. Snyder.  In addition he was grandpa to two step grandsons, Jeremy Hertz and David Hertz and their wives and a great grandpa to their five children. He was preceded in death by brothers Edward, Glen, Ross and Dale Scrivnor. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, September 29 at 2:00 pm at United Methodist Church of the Dunes. Full military rites by the American Legion Charles A. Conklin Post #28 . Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be given to Methodist Church of the Dunes music fund or Habitat for Humanity. Please visit www.klaassenfuneralhome.com to sign Webb’s online guest book. Arrangements by Klaassen Family Funeral Home.