LAWRENCE WILKINSON

WILKINSON, LAWRENCE

(LARRY)

Lawrence (Larry) Wilkinson, 74, of Gainesville, Florida died of heart failure on May 3, 2012. He was born into a pioneer family in Crestview, Florida on March 5, 1938. He graduated from Choctawhatchee High School and attended the University of Florida where he played on the golf team. He played golf on the PGA Tour before becoming the club professional at Red Run Golf Club in Detroit, MN. He then changed careers and became a financial advisor in Memphis, TN. In 1978 he moved to Fort Myers, Florida with his wife Bethene where he worked for Merrill Lynch/Bank of America for 35 years before retiring to Gainesville, Florida in 2004. While in Gainesville he cheered the Gators onto victory and discussed their losses and coaching with enthusiasm. He is survived by his wife of 35 years Bethene (Giles), sister Gloria Wood and Linda Gillette; nieces Melissa Thompson Pelz (husband Oliver and their children, Roy, Henry and William) and Lauren Glonek, nephew Chip Thompson, cousins Muriel Destin, Dewey Edward Destin, Susan Destin, Harold Destin, Brenda Destin Johnson, and Nina Destin; his many friends and his beloved Labrador Retriever, Willow. He is preceded in death by his mother and father Henridee Edwards Wilkinson and George William Wilkinson; his brother Roy Wilkinson and his sister Virgie Wilkinson Thompson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the memory of Larry Wilkinson to the University of Florida Foundation Inc. c/o Karen Legato, Senior Director of Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 100125, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0125.