Robert Wilkinson

Longtime Alaskan Robert Kabel Wilkinson, 95, died May 11, 2011, at home surrounded by his children.

A memorial celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date. Robert's ashes will be scattered with those of his beloved wife Betty and many family pets in the Kenai River, upriver of their Keystone Estates home.

Robert was born to Irving and Matilda Wilkinson in Hartford, Mich., on July 28, 1915. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1933 and soon after joined the Army Air Corps. While serving at Selfridge Field near Mount Clemens, Mich., he met his future wife on a blind date.

During his life he served his country with distinction for 42 years, including tours in California, Michigan, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and Japan. In January 1941, he was transferred to Alaska, traveling to Seward on the SS St. Mehiel and by train to Fort Richardson, where he was assigned to the Army Air Corps until his unit was deployed to the Aleutian Theatre with stops in Dutch Harbor, Attu and Amchitka. This was Robert's first introduction to Alaska and at that time he resolved never to return.

After an "airmail" courtship, he returned in October 1943 to Michigan, where he proposed to and later married his sweetheart, Betty Jane Ashley. Including the courtship, Robert and Betty enjoyed 68 years together until her passing in 2004.

Robert's return to Alaska came in 1959 when the USAF transferred him from Georgia to Ladd AFB, later named Fort Wainwright. The 6,050-mile car ride, including the unpaved Alaska Highway, was the beginning of an adventure that would last a lifetime.

After his retirement as chief warrant officer from the U.S. Air Force in 1962 and from the Civil Service in 1975, Robert and Betty left the big city of Anchorage behind and built their dream retirement home on the Kenai River.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Vern and Dwight.

Robert is survived by four children, Cherie Shrader of Eagle River, Lani Jensen of Anchorage, Carla Dau of Wasilla and Robert A. Wilkinson of Glennallen; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

For those inclined, the family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.