Don L. Wilkinson, Sr. | Eastern North Carolina Now

Born: March 05, 1937, Died: August 12, 2013

    Mr. Don LaMarr Wilkinson, Sr., age 76, a resident of 323 Isabella Avenue, Washington Park, died Monday, August 12, 2013 at his home.

    Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, August 15, 2013 in Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church, Washington, conducted by Rev. Danny Allen and Rev. Chris Leak. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.

    The following will serve as active pallbearers: Bill Davis, Jeff Peacock, Lee Bowen, Mitch St. Clair, Dave Miller and Ike Williams.

    Honorary pallbearers will be Walter "Bo" Bowen, Sammy Marshall and Jimmy Spain.

    Mr. Wilkinson was born in Washington on March 5, 1937. He was the son of the late Johnny Armstead Wilkinson, Sr. and Edna Dailey Wilkinson Price. Mr. Wilkinson graduated from Washington High School in 1955. In 1977, he graduated from Edgecombe Community College. Mr. Wilkinson served 18 months in the U.S. Naval Reserve, 11 years in the N.C. National Guard and 21 1/2 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring as CWO-4. He worked for 31 years at Carolina Telephone, retiring in 1986. Mr. Wilkinson operated Wilkinson Enterprises for the past 27 years.

    Mr. Wilkinson was very active in his community. He was a past member of the East Carolina Engineers Club. Mr. Wilkinson lived in Tarboro for 21 years before moving to Washington. While living in Tarboro, he was a member of St. James United Methodist Church in Tarboro and sang in the church choir. Later, he became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Washington where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Wilkinson was a Scout master and served as Boy Scout Jamboree Security Advisor. He was a Washington Park Town Commissioner where he has served for the past 16 years. Mr. Wilkinson was a member of the Mid-East Commission and served as communication officer for Beaufort County Emergency Management. He was a volunteer fireman with the Washington Fire Department, Tarboro Fire Department, Hartsease Fire Department (where he served as Asst. Chief) and Bunyan Fire Department.

    On July 14, 1958, Mr. Wilkinson married the former Shirley Moore, who preceded him in death, September 18, 2008.

    Mr. Wilkinson is survived by two sons, Don L. Wilkinson, Jr. and wife, Cynthia of Stokes; Gregory D. Wilkinson and wife, Wendy of Washington; three sisters, Betty Smith of Midlothian, Va.; Debbie Bailey and husband, Bart of Allen, TX, Sue Thompson and husband, Kirk of Emerald Isle, NC; a brother, Lavon Wilkinson of Sneed's Ferry, N.C.; three grandchildren, Zachary, Nicholas and Megan; and step mother, Mattie Pearl Williamson of Bayboro and his faithful dog, Roxie.

    In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Wilkinson was preceded in death by a brother, John Wilkinson, Jr.

    The family will receive friends from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington and other times at his home, 323 Isabella Avenue, Washington Park.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street, Washington, N.C. 27889 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, N.C. 27612.

    Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Wilkinson family.