Elbert R. Wilkinson

1921 - 2005

Elbert R. Wilkinson, 83, a retired minister/pastor, died Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, at a local hospital.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday at Bethesda Community Church, 4700 N. Beach St., Fort Worth. The service will be led by the Rev. Morris Ivey, the Rev. Bill Fitch, the Rev. Harvey Junker and the Rev. Vic Schobert, superintendent of the North Texas Council of the Assemblies of God. Bearers of his casket will be his nephews and grand-son-in-law. Honorary bearers will be former deacons with whom the Rev. Wilkinson has served. Reserved seating for these deacons and their spouses will be available at the church. Burial: Following committal services, Elbert will be laid to rest in Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: The Rev. Wilkinson will lie in state noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family receiving friends 6 to 8 p.m., at Lucas Sylvania Funeral Home.

Elbert R. Wilkinson was born Dec. 29, 1921, in Dallas to John Franklin and Minnie Lee Ferguson Wilkinson. Elbert entered full time Christian ministry at the age of 17. As a young pastor serving in Gainesville, he was appointed voluntary chaplain at Camp Howze during World War II. This was one of the ministries of which he was most proud, and developed relationships that lasted a lifetime. He came to Fort Worth in 1944 to be assistant pastor of Rosen Heights Assembly of God Church. Later in 1944 he came to the Riverside area to pastor Riverside Assembly of God Church. In 1950, the church relocated and built on Maurice and Eagle Drive. In 1969, the church relocated again, to I-820 and Highway 121. At this time the church was named Christian Temple. The Rev. Wilkinson retired as pastor of that church in 1986 after having served the same congregation more than 42 years. The Rev. Wilkinson served his denomination in several capacities, including being presbyter of the North Fort Worth Section of the Assemblies of God. This was the largest section of the largest district in the General Council of the Assemblies of God. He served nine years on the board of directors of Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. Elbert was active in the civic and political areas in the communities in which he served. He was a leader in the Assembly of God in searching out locations for church campgrounds. He led in the selection of the property in Hurst where the North Texas Assembly of God offices are housed. He was very active for many years in the Riverside Lions Club. He was a friend of many well-known political leaders and was active in community politics. He was invited to Austin by Gov. Price Daniels and others for special functions. Elbert was invited to a national prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. and an international prayer conference in Cambridge, England. In retirement he became involved in RV clubs and was called on regularly to handle Sunday worship services. Many of these people looked on him as their pastor. The Rev. Wilkinson was an ordained Assembly of God minister for 62 years.

Survivors: Vera, the love of his life and wife of 67 years; daughter, Shirley Riggs and her husband, Fred; grandson, Brian Riggs and his wife, Jennifer; granddaughter, Yvonne South and her husband, Eddie; great-grandchildren, Kayla South and Elizabeth, Samantha and Tabitha Riggs; and many nieces and nephews.