Thomas Allan Wilkinson

Retired Army Lt. Col. Thomas Allan Wilkinson, 73, Lakewood Ranch, died Jan. 18, 2005, at Westminster Manor Health Care Center in Bradenton. He was born Jan. 6, 1932, in Fort Worth, Texas and came to Lakewood Ranch in 1997 from Buffalo, N.Y. He was the geotechnical branch chief with the Army Corps of Engineers in Buffalo from 1971 until he retired in 1990. He was a member of the Retired Military Officers Association in Sarasota. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees and did post graduate course work in geology at the University of Oklahoma. He served in the Army during the Korean War from 1955 to 1957 and retired from the Army Reserves at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1992. He attended Unitarian Universalistic Church of Sarasota. Survivors include his beloved wife of 45 years, Rosalyn (Schilz); a daughter, Nachelle M. of Alexandria. Va.; sons Chris A. of Falls Church, Va., and Tedric G. of Richmond, Va.; a sister, Cynthia Krauss of Granbury, Texas; brothers Joseph A. of Tempe, Ariz., and John C. of Mentone, Ala.; and a grandson, Hayden A. of Poolesville, Md. The family will receive friends from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with a service to follow, in front of his residence at 6541 Water's Edge Way, Village of Edgewater in Lakewood Ranch. Further services, with full military honors rendered by the Army, will be March 7 at Fort Myers Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Shannon Funeral Home, Town Chapel, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1230 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34239. Online condolences may be made at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.