Soso, MS
Funeral Home
Colonial Chapel Funeral Home
Visitation
Thursday, July 2, 2026, 10 am – 12 pm, Salem Heights Baptist Church
Service
Thursday, July 2, 2026, 12 pm, Salem Heights Baptist Church.
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero who Served in the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten.” In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service, which our military men and women have given to their country and our state, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard memorializing its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation. Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on June 29, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Sergeant First Class Robert Bruce Hilbun, age 95, Soso, MS, who served in the 213th Medical Brigade has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior.
It takes a special person to serve in the military for their country, sacrificing time with family time, comfort, and safety to ensure all Americans can enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.
A special message from General Douglas MacArthur remains relevant today for our servicemen who have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away.” Rest in peace, soldier. We honor your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family’s support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly, and live so freely.
You have now earned your rest, so go fly with the angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is complete. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son.
Another great soldier has gone home—“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life.”
Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:
Colonial Chapel Funeral Home
Dr. Robert Bruce Hilbun of Soso, MS passed away Monday, June 29, 2026 at home at the age of 95. He was born on Feb. 12, 1931.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Bruce S. Hilbun and Cammie Miller Hilbun, and 4 brothers, Billy Hilbun, John Hilbun, Charles Carroll Hilbun, Joel P. Hilbun, and Tom Hilbun, and one son, Bruce Thomas Hilbun.
Survivors include his wife, Gail Chisholm Hilbun; sons Robert E. (Tracy) Hilbun, Lane Hilbun, and Johnny Chisholm (Cy); grandchildren Zach Hilbun (Alex), Hunter Alford (Kyle), Allison Hilbun, David Hilbun, and Dean Hilbun; great-grandchildren Rivers Alford and Nicole Alford.
He graduated from Jones County Agricultural High School. Robert joined the MS National Guard during his senior year in high school and volunteered to active duty to attend Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His National Guard unit was called to active duty at the beginning of the Korean War. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class instructor and was sent to the war zone in Korea. He served on the island of Okinawa war zone.
After the war he attended and graduated from MS State University with a degree in Bacteriology, and then attended the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry with the Dr. of Dental Surgery degree.
Dr. Hilbun practiced dentistry in Laurel for over 45 years. Early in his dental practice he became a pilot, and this made it possible to do mission work along the Texan-Mexican border.
He, along with his wife Gail, did overseas mission work — two trips to Honduras, 4 trips to Russia, and two trips to Ukraine.
He was very active in his church work, including Centerville Baptist, First Baptist Laurel, and Salem Heights Baptist. He taught many Bible studies and a TV Sunday School class at First Baptist Laurel. He also served as a deacon.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 10:00 until 12:00 at Salem Heights Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 P.M. Burial will be at Big Creek Cemetery on Hwy 84 West.
Rev. Brent Benson and Rev. Troy Hobson will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel is in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Terry Moore, Billy Guy, David Hudson, Rickey Blackwell, Ken Keyes, and Joe Blackledge.
Honorary Pallbearers are Norris Wallace and Dr. Don Hall. See less