Reverend Doctor Gerald G. Wilkinson
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Graveside services for the Reverend Doctor Gerald G. Wilkinson, age 93, a California resident, formerly of Atoka, will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021, at the Hanford Cemetery, in Hanford California. A celebration of life will follow at 10:00 a.m., March 19, 2021, at the First Southern Baptist Church, located at 1207 N. 11th Avenue, Hanford, California.
Interment will be in the Hanford Cemetery, at Hanford, California.
Wilkinson passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021, in Hanford, California.
He was born on April 4, 1927, to Floyd and Mamie Wilkinson, at Tushka.
Wilkinson graduated from Tushka High School, in 1945. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Southeastern State University, in Durant; his Master’s Degree from East Texas State University, in Commerce, Texas; and his Doctorate of Education from North Texas State University, in Denton, Texas.
He married his loving wife, Olena Ralls Wilkinson, on December 31, 1948, at Sherman, Texas. They enjoyed 72 wonderful years together.
Wilkinson served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, and was honorably discharged in 1947.
He was an educator his entire professional life. Wilkinson was a teacher and principal in Oklahoma and New Mexico, before moving to Hanford, California in 1963. He taught eighth grade math at Woodrow Wilson Junior High. After achieving his Doctorate Degree, he was the Superintendent at Pioneer School District, retiring in June, 1988, after 17 years of service. He also taught math for the College of the Sequoias.
Wilkinson was a lifelong man of God. He served as a pastor in Oklahoma and was the pastor of the Stratford Baptist Church, retiring in 1993. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, in Hanford, California.
He enjoyed music, playing both guitar and fiddle and singing some of his favorites. Wilkinson especially loved playing the fiddle. He was a founding member of the Gloryland Music Group, ministering in local convalescent homes. Wilkinson enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri, to see his favorite country music performers.
Survivors include his wife, Olena Wilkinson; his children, daughter, Alicia and Chris Simoni; their children, Eric and Carey Simoni; Letitia and Brett Zugnoni; Tina and Nick Nobreiga; daughter, Kathy and Lee Barcellos; their children, Heather Barcellos Vasquez; Brett and Andrea Barcellos; son, Glendel Wilkinson; son, Jason and Karen Wilkinson; their children, Grant Lawrence, Lacey Lawrence, Beau Wilkinson and Sydney Wilkinson; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Floyd and Mamie Wilkinson; and infant siblings, Teeny and Arthur.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at the Peoples Funeral Home, in Hanford, California.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the First Southern Baptist Church Hanford in Hanford, California, the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
