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William Wilkinson Obituary
February 16, 1931 - January 15, 2026
Wilkinson, William Benjamin Jr. (Bennie), 94, of Chester, Virginia. He was born in Petersburg, Virginia on February 16, 1931, and passed away peacefully in Chester on January 15, 2026, just one month short of his 95th birthday.
Bennie was predeceased by his wife, Joan Pulley Wilkinson; parents, William Benjamin Wilkinson, Sr. and Catherine Mayer Wilkinson; and sisters, Virginia W. Jennings, Louise W. Valenta, Gloria W. Baird, and Ruth S. Bury.
Bennie attended Petersburg High School and served with the 32nd Airborne Division in Syracuse, NY. He was founder of Wilkinson Advertising, along with his late wife Joan. Following his retirement, Bennie developed a keen interest in pickleball and continued his long-time love of bicycling. Bennie was a 32nd degree Mason in Blandford Lodge, AF&AM. In his last days he was lovingly cared for by Crater Commuity Hospice.
Survivors include daughters, Cathryn (Brian Thompson) of Monterey, California, and Cindy, of Powhatan, Virginia; grandchildren, Christina Comer (Andrew Corbitt), Matthew Comer, and Chloe Jane Thompson.
A service of Death and Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026, Chester United Methodist Church, 12132 Percival Street, Chester, with interment following in Sunset Memorial Park, 2901 W. Hundred Road, Chester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Rd., Petersburg, VA, 23805, or to your favorite charity.
Arrangements by the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Condolences may be registered at ealvinsmall.com.
E Alvin Small
2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
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E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory - Colonial Heights2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
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2 Entries
Carol Morgan
February 6, 2026
William B Wilkinson Jr. was my “Uncle Bennie “ . He was my uncle for 82 years. There are so many wonderful memories. In resent times. because of our health issues, we visited by phone. Our last visit just before he went to the hospital, we talked for 3 hours. I will miss those calls. May you rest in peace.
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