Charles Robert Wilkinson's Obituary
In Loving Memory of our Dearest Father, Husband, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, and Friend. Charlie peacefully went with the Lord at the age of 71, May 19th, 2009 in Lakewood, Washington surrounded with love by his wife, Hony, and three children, Nathan, Lisa, and Kristina. Funeral services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, Washington on Tuesday, May 26th at 11:00am. (www.mountainviewtacoma.com)
Charlie was born in 1938 a British citizen in Hong Kong. He lived there during the Japanese occupation of WWII with his family later fleeing to Macau, returning after the war. Growing up he excelled in sports and academics. Charlie later enlisted in the British Army and attended St. Josephs College in Hong Kong where he graduated with honors and was a teacher's aide, Chief Prefect. He ended his time in Hong Kong as a bank clerk at Shanghai Bank.
Charlie came to America in 1961 and worked at Bank of America in Burlingame, California. He then joined the Air Force and was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana as an Aircraft Instrument Mechanic with top secret clearance. He became a U.S. Citizen in April of 1966.
While in Montana, Charlie volunteered at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. It was there he met his first wife Elizabeth Kanning. They married in Great Falls, Montana on May 7th, 1966 then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where they started their family. Charlie worked as an aircraft mechanic at United Airlines and continued his education at the College of San Mateo graduating with his Associates Degree in 1970. He loved knowledge and went on to study English and Psychology at the University of California at San Francisco where he earned his Bachelor's degree.
Charlie loved his family and provided very well for them, buying a house in Pacifica that overlooked the ocean, sending his kids to Catholic school, and later moving his family to the country where they enjoyed farm style living with horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits and a cow named Charlie.
In 1981 Charlie moved his family to Kalispell, Montana where he opened the first video store in North West Montana. He called it Wilkinson's Video Station. His motto was, -Å"Give me a store by the side of the road, and I will be a friend to all who enters.- He continued to work for United Airlines in San Francisco and commuted back and forth until 1984.
Charlie moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1988 where he eventually met his present wife, Hony, while she was vacationing from Indonesia. They married January 22, 1994. They loved to travel, see shows and go to the Elks Club for family gatherings. During this time he was employed with Boeing Corporation from 1988 until present as an airline mechanic and inspector.
Charlie was blessed to travel so much before he passed. He visited his son's family in Wisconsin as well as his daughter and son-in-law in Las Vegas. Charlie and Hony traveled to Indonesia and Australia in March spending time with family. In April they traveled to Laughlin, Nevada with his sister.
Chuck will always be remembered for his generosity to others, wisdom he gave, his sense of humor, and friendly demeanor. He always thought of others first and would be the first person to help out a stranger. Charlie enjoyed photography, chess, and movies as well as having a passion for poetry, writing many pieces which he enjoyed sharing with his family. He was very creative as evidenced by his car, house, work-area, and any gift or correspondence he would give to others.
Charlie was preceded in death by his father, James Wilkinson and mother, Maria Connie McMillan; nephews, Michael and Aaron Houston. He is survived by his wife Hony Wilkinson, children Nathan Wilkinson, Lisa Nevis and Kristina Estep, Sisters, Roberta McMillan-Jones and Angel Shrope as well as his family in Australia and numerous son & daughter in-laws, grand children, nieces and nephews.
Although he will be greatly missed his legacy of love will live through his children, wife, sisters and grand children.
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