Thomas Lester Wilkerson Sr.

WILKERSON, Thomas Lester Sr., 88, of Varina, passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Nursing Home. Born May 27, 1920 in Forest City, N.C., he was the second child born to the union of Mary Rose Ella Reavis and Thomas Jethro Wilkerson. A 1937 graduate of Sunshine High School, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1939, serving aboard the USS Hopkins and USS Schenck. During WWII he served aboard the USS Ancon as chief radioman in the European and Pacific Theaters, involved in the invasions of Normandy, Sicily and Salerno. Mr. Wilkerson was granted a medical discharge in 1945. Graduating from the University of Richmond in 1954, he received an accounting degree. He was employed by Eubank White Truck Company as Secretary-Treasurer until 1972, and retired from O'Boyle Tank Lines in 1982. Before his decline in health, Mr. Wilkerson enjoyed deepwater fishing, golfing, reading, playing cards, especially bridge and gin rummy. He was a great storyteller and loved a good joke. Having been a member of the Varina Ruritan Club, he served as president and received the 1971 Varina Citizen of the Year Award. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge #272 in addition to being a member of VFW Post #9808 Mechanicsville. He was baptized in Robinson Creek at Mount Harmony Baptist Church, Bostic, N.C. A 46-year member of Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, being a member of the Sunday School Class, his service included deacon, finance committee, and pastor search committee. He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Juanita Page Wilkerson; five children, Thomas Wilkerson Jr. and wife, Linda, of Moscow Mills, Mo., Eugene Wilkerson and wife, Megan, of Oakville, Wash., Marsha W. Whitehead and husband, Brad, of Courtland, Va., Malinda W. Blevins and husband, Bill, of Tallahassee, Fla., Richard Wilkerson and wife, Shawna, of Richmond, Va.; 16 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first child, Sandra Floy Wilkerson; and sister, Hester Malinda Tony. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2008 at Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, 2950 New Market Road, Richmond, with Pastor Sam Grozdanov and Rev. Eugene Wilkerson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton, N.C. The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staff of the V.A. Medical Center Nursing Home for their patience, kindness and exceptional care. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Four Mile Creek Baptist Church. Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va., is assisting the family.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.