Wilbert Joseph Bourda was born on June 2, 1929 in Loreauville, Louisiana.  He was the last of six children of Charles Bourda, Sr. and Anna Gordon.  He attended the Bourda School and St. Martinville High School and then moved to Houston with his older sister Thelma.  He decided to enter the army at the age of 21 and served as Private First Class for two years in Germany.  Upon returning to the United States, he moved back to Houston and began his career in carpentry.  In June 1956, he married Barbara Lewis.  They had two daughters, Brigitte and Dominique. Throughout his career as a master carpenter, he oversaw home building, hung doors and built custom cabinetry throughout the Houston area.  He also spent five years in Fort Lee, NJ as the Operations Manager of a hotel. 

Mr. Wilbert, as he liked to be called, was always a big personality.  He was a hard worker but loved to laugh and tell a joke and have a beer. He loved to watch his favorite TV shows, such as In the Heat of the Night and Law & Order.  He spent most of his time with his large family, both in Houston and Louisiana.  Later in life, he also enjoyed becoming the grandfather to five grandchildren - Matthew Wilbert Bourda, Tori Weston, Noah Allen, Zoe Allen and Bryce Allen.  

After nearly 50 years of marriage, he lost his wife Barbara to cancer in 2006.  He was also preceded in death by his siblings Thelma Ozenne, Allen Bourda, Charles Bourda Jr., Louis Bourda and George Bourda Sr.  On February 2, 2021, he passed peacefully at the age of 91.  He is survived by his two daughters and their husbands, Brigitte and Perry Weston, Jr. and Dominique and Vincent Allen,  their children, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and family friends. 

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 8am.  Due to Covid-19 concerns, we ask that extended family and friends attend via Zoom.  His final resting place will be Houston National Cemetery alongside his wife.  In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (see donation link to the right).