William R. Wilkins, Jr.

BILL, WICK

Posted By: Elizabeth Wilkins (email)
Date: 6/26/2010 at 20:19:39

SPOKANE, WA – William Ralph (Bill) Wilkins Jr. “-Papa Bill”, 68, retired Boeing executive and former Spokane CAT dealer, a resident of Nine Mile Falls, (Spokane), Washington passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at Sacred Heart Hospital due to complications from cancer surgery.

Bill was born July 29, 1941 in Minneapolis, MN to William R. Wilkins Sr. and Phyllis Marion Wilkins. The first of four children he attended grade school in Richfield, MN and graduated from high school in Clear Lake, Iowa where he was a class officer, thespian, athlete, and obtained Eagle rank as an Explorer Scout. Bill graduated from Cornell College with a BS in Business and Economics where he was an officer of AXE. Following graduation Bill attended OCS school and graduated as a Lieutenant JG in the US Navy. He married Susan Bower of Clear Lake, Iowa in 1963 and the couple moved to Hawaii where Bill served aboard DER 324, USS FALGOUT on three 9 month deployments in the Gulf of Tonkin and Subic Bay. The couple then welcomed the birth of daughter, Elizabeth Ann in ‘64, and son, Peter Joseph in ‘65. After Navy service, they moved to Spokane in ‘68 where he joined his father-in-law at Bower Machinery rising from ground level in the Parts Department to company President. He enjoyed raising Arabian horses with his children and wife Susan at their Custer Ranch where he especially enjoyed driving tractor and working with his hands.

Following Bower Machinery’s Sale to Western States Equipment in ‘81, Bill continued to manage the business’ transition. On July 17, 1982, Bill married Sharon Lorraine Davis of Spokane, Washington, his beloved partner for the next 27 years until the time of his death. They moved to Sand Point, Idaho until he returned to his management career in 1986 as a manager in Boeing’s supply chain at Everett, Washington, and subsequently moved to Huntington Beach, California progressing to Senior Manager and Director responsible for commercial aerospace parts terminals in Long Beach and Torrance, California. Bill retired from Boeing in ‘06 and Sharon and he returned to the Spokane area to be near his beloved daughter, granddaughter, Ashley Wilkins and extended family until the time of his death. These were rich years enjoying work on his Nine Mile Falls property and extended motor home travel to visit family in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Bill’s family was his joy, and he provided love, guidance, and counsel to family and friends in an intelligent, tender manner. He was a loving, spiritual, and vibrant man beloved by family, friends and colleagues. He is survived by wife, Sharon Wilkins of Nine Mile Falls, daughter, Elizabeth Ann Wilkins and granddaughter Ashley Elizabeth Wilkins of Spokane, WA, Son, Peter Joseph Wilkins and his wife, Brittiony Jo Borges and grandson to be of Seattle, his brother Todd and wife Lynne Wilkins, Klamath Falls, OR niece Ali & Patrick Hooper and great-nieces; Michaela, Hana, Laine Hooper & nephew Dr. Timothy William Wilkins & wife Heather and twin great nephews; Skyler and Ethan Wilkins; Sister Linda Kay Shortreed and brother-in-law Emmett of Bend, OR and niece Anne Boelter great –nieces; Alannah and Aliyah Boelter and niece Jennie Beamer and great-nephews Kalani, Keanu and great-niece Kayah Beamer, Sister Holly Ann Stork and husband David and nephews Andrew, Alex, Beau and Shaw Stork of Klamath Falls, OR. Special pal and cousin retired Navy Captain, Dennis Belt, wife Joan, Aunt Mary Westfall, and loving paternal and maternal cousins and extended family.

Bill is also remembered affectionately by Sharon Wilkins’ family; her mother Thelma & Paul of Spokane, WA, Sister Kelly & Jeremy Mundt their daughter Chanda & Jeff Walther and son Kellan, brother’s Norm, Bob, Rick, Steve, and Jay. And many other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials donated to Feed the Children.