Timothy Wilkins' Obituary
Timothy T. Wilkins, age 60, of Lorain, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 23, 2011 at The Cleveland Clinic. He had been ill for six weeks.
Timothy was born on August 29, 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee. He moved to Lorain with his parents at the age of nine.
He was a sergeant in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was highly decorated, including being awarded three Purple Hearts. He served with the Black Knights B Troop, 3/5 Calvary Infantry Division, having fought in the Battle on Hamburger Hill. He also received the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal and was a Sharpshooter Rifleman.
He was a member of the AmVets Post 32 and the VFW Post 1079, both in Elyria.
He had earned an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering at LCCC.
Timothy worked at Ford Motor Company in Lorain for 26 years. He was a member of the UAW Local 429.
Tim was very active in his children’s sporting events. He coached Farm League for Grafton and LaPorte Leagues for many years. He also was active at Mr. Dee’s Karate Academy in Elyria, where his children participated for many years in tournaments.
He enjoyed camping, hiking, and trips to Mohican. He was very interested in World History and enjoyed watching the History Channel. Timothy enjoyed building train sceneries and military models. Through the years, he kept in touch with his Army buddies.
He had two dogs which he cherished very much, Mugs and Mabel.
He was a member of Black Knights Vietnam Reunion Group, Black River Astronomical Society, The American Indian Education Center, and The Cherokee Indian Nation and was active in local Pow-Wows.
Leaving to survive him is his wife, Margaret “Peggy” (nee Flaherty); his sons, William Michael Wilkins (fiancée Jen Broud), of Grafton, Sean Patrick Flaherty Wilkins, of Oberlin; his daughters, Margaret Erin (Thomas) Lafferty, of Columbus, Patricia Tara Wilkins, of Grafton; his mother, Katherine Wilkins, of Punta Gorda, FL; and his sister, Sharon (Timothy) Fradley, of Port Charlotte, FL; his grandsons, Clayton Lafferty, Logan Autra and Gideon May; and his granddaughters, Kayleigh and Breanna Wilkins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Joseph Wilkins; his brother, Michael Joseph Wilkins, Jr.; his father-in-law, William Flaherty and his mother-in-law, Dorothy Flaherty; and his brother-in-law, William Flaherty, Jr.
The Wilkins family will receive friends on Thursday, May 26th from 4-8 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning in the funeral center at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Mother of God Parish, 309 West 7th Street, Lorain. Fr. Daniel O. Divis, Pastor, will officiate. Full Military honors will be conducted immediately following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family hopes to purchase a memorial brick for Timothy at the Lorain County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or contributions may be made to Friendship Animal Protective League,8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035-4746.
Family and friends may leave online condolences at www.dovinreberjones.com.
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