Charles F. Wilkins Jr., M.D.

Dr. Charles F. Wilkins Jr., age 85, of Russellville, died Sunday, February 4, 2007, at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. The eldest of four children, he was born March 16, 1921, to the Rev. Charles F. and Evie Elder Wilkins in Fort Worth, Texas. He was an honor graduate of Newport High School in Newport, Arkansas, graduated with honors with his Bachelor of Science degree from the Ouachita Baptist University in 1941, and graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University in 1949, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree. He enlisted in the United States Army to serve in World War II. He served in the European Theatre in the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division in Patton's 3rd Army. He received the Bronze Star for courage under fire, two Purple Hearts for wounds received in battle and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. In 1945 he married his college sweetheart, Joyce Aileen Brown, of England, Arkansas. After graduation from medical school he re-enlisted in the Army, and from 1949 through 1954 he served as a Medical Doctor in the Medical Service Corps at Walter Reed Hospital and Brooke Army Hospital and as a Clinical Medicine Instructor and Professor of Military Science at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. In 1955 he moved with his wife and four children, Wanda, Charles III, Laura and Mike, to Russellville. He was the first Board Certified Medical Specialist (Internal Medicine) in the Arkansas River Valley between Little Rock and Fort Smith and practiced medicine in Russellville at Millard-Henry Clinic. He helped start the nursing program at Arkansas Tech University, was the past President of the Pope/Yell County Medical Society, past Speaker of the House of Delegates of the Arkansas Medical Society, past President of the Arkansas Medical Society, the Arkansas Society of Internal Medicine and the Arkansas Heart Association, a member of the American College of Physicians, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, past Chief of Staff of Saint Mary's Hospital in Russellville, past member of the Executive Committee of Saint Mary's Hospital, member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and past member of the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. He was a member of Bakers Creek Baptist Church in Russellville. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-six years, Joyce; and a sister, Rebecca Marando. Survivors include four children and their spouses, Wanda and Shelby Heflin of Russellville, Charles and Gail Wilkins of Houston, Texas, Laura and William Speer of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Mike and Teresa Wilkins of Russellville; two sisters, Annolee Russell of Jonesboro and Billye Sue Monk of Hope; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be at 2 P.M. on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at First United Methodist Church in Russellville, officiated by the Rev. Mackey Yokem. Burial will be in Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle, by Shinn Funeral Service. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons, Charles F. Wilkins IV of Washington, DC, Justin Wilkins of Benton, James Wilkins and Matt Wilkins, both of Conway, and Major Shelby A. Heflin Jr., serving with the United States Army in Iraq, represented by Chase Gipson, husband of granddaughter, Missy. The family will receive friends this evening from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Joyce and Charles Wilkins Nursing Scholarship Fund, Arkansas Tech University Development Office, Post Office Box 8820, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.