Dr. J. D. Bilbro was born August 5, 1930, in Forgan, Oklahoma. He passed away on April 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas, at the age of 94 and went to be with his Lord. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice, his parents, Jim and Lillie Bilbro, his sisters, Joyce Jones and Lillie Reis, and his daughter, Charlotte Hunter.

J. D. was raised on a farm near Forgan and received his initial education in that community. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Goodwell in 1951. He married Mary Alice Grossman on August 25, 1951. In September 1951 he entered graduate school at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater and graduated in 1957 with a Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Science. He and his family moved to Lubbock, Texas, and he began his professional career as a scientist for the Agricultural Research Service, USDA on May 1, 1957.

After twenty-one years at Lubbock, he accepted a transfer to the Agricultural Research Service facility at Big Spring, Texas to develop Wind-Erosion-Control practices. He retired from the Agricultural Research Service on January 1, 1999, after a career of 41 years and 8 months. He and his wife returned to Lubbock in 2002. In 2004 he became a freelance reporter for the Avalanche Journal newspaper. In 2006 he became a contributing writer for the Southwest Farm Press publication. He retired from that position in December 2008. In 2009 he completed and published his autobiography, The Dust Bowl Kid.

During his career with the Agricultural Research Service J. D. developed agricultural practices that are widely used today, and he became internationally recognized as an expert in wind-erosion control. Scientists came from all over the world to visit with him and study the erosion prevention techniques that he pioneered.

J. D. is survived by Charlotte's husband, Bob Hunter, Alice and David Mitchell, James and Victoria Bilbro, and Joe and Elizabeth Bilbro, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations be made to Heifer international at Heifer.org, or a charity of your choice.

Cremation services are under the direction of House of Angels Funeral Home.