Jack Ross Wilkerson

Jack Ross Wilkerson of Nampa passed away at home Aug. 28, 2008, at the age of 82. Jack was born Dec. 5, 1925, in Nampa to Wilmer and Ollie Simpson Wilkerson. Jack attended all of his school years in Nampa, graduating from Nampa High in 1944, but never actually walked through the graduation ceremony. He turned 18 years old, finished the requirements to graduate early, and enlisted in the Navy. He attended Basic Engineering School in Great Lakes, Ill., and at General Diesel in Richmond, Va. He served in the Asian-Pacific Theater and received the Asian-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal.
Jack was honorably discharged May 22, 1946. When he first returned from the Navy he took flying lessons at the local airport on the G.I. Bill. Here he met Leona Crichton, who worked in the office there, and they were married June 17, 1951. Over the next 8 years 4 children were born.
He received his Private Pilot License but ran out of G.I. funds just before he received his Commercial License. Then he hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad as a switchman. He spent many years as a yardmaster in the UPRR tower. However, the last 10 to 12 years before retiring he went out on the road to La Grande as a brakeman.
Jack retired from UPRR in 1988 and enjoyed playing golf every day at Centennial Golf Course where he was involved in the very early construction of the golf course. Jack had also always enjoyed outdoor sports including fly fishing, elk, deer and pheasant hunting.
Jack is survived by his wife Leona of Nampa; daughter Susan (John) Mabey of Vale, OR; son Tim (Susan) Wilkerson of Hermiston, OR; daughter Nancy (David) Ward of Nampa; daughter Cindy Wilkerson of Meridian; one brother, Bob (Norma) of Litchfield Park, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Jean Wilkerson of Silverton, OR and Alberta Wilkerson of Hermiston, OR; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, one sister, two sisters-in-law and one niece.
A visitation was held Sept. 2 at Alsip Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Sept. 3, 2008, also at Alsip Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell, Idaho.
Memorials may be made to Horizon Home Health and Hospice or New Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, Nampa, Idaho. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. S. Nampa, ID 83651, 466-3545.