WILBERT "CUDA" YORK

Wilbert York was born July 10, 1926 in Schulenburg Texas to James Henry York and Emma Jarmon York. His brothers and sisters were: Lela Mae “Sang” York, Estelle York, Leslie “ Ball” York, Robert “Ya Ya “ York, Jarmon “Tute” York and Ivan “Earl” York. All preceded him in death. 

  "CUDA " as he was affectionately known, confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age at St. James Baptist Church in Schulenburg.  It was customary and a joy for him to dress up and attend church on Sunday. Afterwards, he would love having dinner with his friends, family and remanence about days gone by while enjoying a game of dominoes.

   He attended Schulenburg high school. At age seventeen he joined the armed service. In February 1945, his call to duty sent him to the island of Iwo Jima in Japan. Iwo Jima was a strategic strong hold for the United States. When the US flags was placed in Japanese soil "Cuda York" was there. After returning home from the service he continued his love for baseball. He was an outstanding shortstop and second baseman. He did not stop there he began coaching black minor league teams. Eventually he would establish teams that competed in the Negro Baseball leagues in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

    In 1955 Wilbert met his wife Barbara Thorn to this union was born three kids, Wilbert Larry York of Hallettsville,  Bernadette York Montgomery Houston, TX and Randolph "Randy" York who preceded him in death. Cuda had another love and that was cooking and barbeque. In the 60's Cuda started his own Barbeque restaurant. Boy could he cook. His favorite was barbeque brisket. When it came to barbeque, his favorite saying was "You don't know how to barbeque".  

  From Washington DC to California Cuda loved to travel. His trademark was his beautiful hair and big cigar. Creating conversation and friends wherever he went.

 For over thirty years Cuda traveled to California to spend time with his cousin Evelyn Benjamin. His mother and her mother were sisters. In 2016 they celebrated his 90th birthday in California. In 2018 they celebrated Evelyn’s 100th birthday. He said “ I would not miss it for the world”.

While in California his request was to have two pits set up for him to barbeque as Barbeque, he said “will always bring people together “.

 He leaves to cherish  his memory ex-wife and forever friend,  Barbara Thorn York, daughter Bernadette Montgomery, son Larry York,  James and Annette Murphy Kathy Kennard, Gail Foster and a host of grandkids, great grandkids nieces and nephews. 

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