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Highlands Today

Funeral Set For Avon Park Officer

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Brad Dickerson

Published: December 29, 2008

AVON PARK - Funeral services have been set for an Avon Park police officer who died Christmas Day while on duty.

The viewing for Sgt. Marc Wilbur, 43, will be held Tuesday at the Stephenson & Nelson Funeral Home in Avon Park. Viewing for friends and family will last from 2 to 4 p.m., and will be open to the public from 4 to 8 p.m.

Services for Sgt. Wilbur begin Wednesday at 12 p.m., at the Union Congregational Church in Avon Park, with burial in the Bougainvillea Cemetery.

A procession will leave the church and head west on West Pleasant to Museum Avenue, according to a press release. From there, the procession will turn left and travel south on Museum Avenue toward Main Street.

On Main, the procession will turn right and travel west to U.S. Hwy. 27 North, where it make a right and end at the cemetery.

Law enforcement officers will shut down intersections along the route, the press release stated. Motorists should expect traffic congestion and delays during the procession, which is expected to start at 1:30 and end around 2:15.

"Citizens wishing to show their respects along the procession route are encouraged to do so," according to the release.

Police Chief Matt Doughney said they are expecting officers from other departments across the state to be in attendance for Wednesday's service.

Wilbur, a 12-year veteran, was on duty in the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza when he slipped into unconsciousness. An accompanying police officer trainee called emergency dispatch and the sergeant was transported to Florida Hospital Heartland Division, where he was pronounced dead around 9 a.m.

Doughney said they are still awaiting word from the medical examiner's office on the exact cause of death.

Before coming to Avon Park, Wilbur was an officer with the Falmouth Police Department in Massachusetts. He then worked in Florida with the Frostproof Police Department and as a deputy sheriff with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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