Lawrence P. Wilkinson

ELDON — Lawrence P. Wilkinson, 94, of Eldon, entered into new life on Oct. 7, 2007, at Hospice House in Ottumwa.He was born Oct. 10, 1912, in Eldon to Leo and Edna Wilkinson Bureker and raised by his grandparents, Thomas and Emma Wilkinson. He married Audrey I. Major May 30, 1941, in Kahoka, Mo. She preceded him in death Sept. 27, 2002.He attended Ashland School and later graduated from Eldon High School in 1934. Early in his life he worked for a CC Camp at Lake Wapello, A.A. Door Co. in Larned, Kan., and the Burlington Ordnance Plant. He was employed by John Deere and Co. in Ottumwa for 32 years, retiring in 1978. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S Army, serving with the 720th Amphibious Tractor Battalion in the Okinowa campaign.He was a member of UAW #74 of Ottumwa and the Eldon Christian Church, where he was the church treasurer for 32 years.He is survived by his sons, Stephen of Ottumwa, Bill of Batavia, John of Muscatine and Drexel of Eldon; his daughters Kay Lyon of Eldon, Lexia Cedillo of Bettendorf, Elaine Burkamper of LeClaire, Becky Whitlock of Atlanta, Mo., and Carmen Baxter of Fremont; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Hull of Douds; and a half brother, Elmer Ash of Phoenix, Ariz.Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, LuAnn Sheesley; a daughter in infancy; his brothers, Lloyd and Marvin Wilkinson; half brothers LeRoy and Carl Ash; and his half sisters, Delores Hull and Dorothy Davis.Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Eldon Christian Church with Revs. Darrel Swafford and George Conz officiating. Interment will be in the Eldon Cemetery with military rites being conducted by O.B. Nelson American Legion Post #3 and Walter B. Schafer Veterans of Foreign Wars #775 of Ottumwa.Open visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the Kremer Funeral Home in Eldon with the family present from 7-8 p.m.Memorials may be directed to the Eldon Church or Hospice of Wapello County.