Howard Wilkinson

Howard Preston Wilkinson, Sr., 82, of Petersburg, VA passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at Southside Regional Medical Center. Mr. Wilkinson was born in Toano, VA on July 30, 1924, the second son of Roscoe Franklin Wilkinson and Jessie Bell Wilkinson. He graduated from Toano High School in 1941 and entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the Fall of 1941 as a business administration student and a member of the VPI Cadet Corps. Following the U.S. entry into World War II, Mr. Wilkinson joined the Army Air Corps. He served overseas with the 8th Air Force as a crewman on the B-17 â??Flying Fortressâ? from 1943 to 1945, where he flew 35 combat missions over Europe. Upon honorable discharge, Mr. Wilkinson reentered VPI and graduated in 1947. His lifelong career as a natural gas utility executive began with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and later included positions with several gas companies which became subsidiaries of the Columbia Gas System. Mr. Wilkinson retired in 1986 as Senior Vice President of Commonwealth Natural Gas Corporation. His leadership extended beyond his company responsibilities as he played a major role in serving church, civic, and service organizations, as well as gas industry associations. His memberships included the Rotary Club of Petersburg, the Petersburg Retail Merchants Association, the United Way of Petersburg, and the Kiwanis Club of Richmond. Mr. Wilkinson served as President of the Battlefield Park Swim Club Association and the Southeastern Gas Association. Following his retirement, Mr. Wilkinson spent several years, up until the time of his death, as a developer of family land interests in James City and York Counties. A faithful member of Walnut Hill Baptist Church in Petersburg, Mr. Wilkinson served as a deacon and as the church treasurer for many years. Mr. Wilkinson is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 59 years, Jacqueline Showalter Wilkinson, and by his four children and their spouses: Howard Preston Wilkinson, Jr. (Carolyn) of Barhamsville, VA, Brenda W. Toncray (Robert) of Chesterfield, VA, Barbara W. Yandle (Kent) of Chesterfield, VA and Colin Roscoe Wilkinson (Emily) of Towson, MD. Additionally, there are seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to cherish his memory, Jennifer Preston Burnette (Christopher) of Lawrenceville, GA, Howard Preston Wilkinson, III, Katherine C. King (James), David Wesley Yandle, and Brandon Colin Yandle all of Richmond, VA, Colin Lewis Wilkinson and Carter Preston Wilkinson of Towson, MD., Jacqueline Conner Burnette and Ainsley Grace Burnette of Lawrenceville, GA and Michael James King of Richmond, VA. Mr. Wilkinsonâ??s devotion to his family was unsurpassed. Mr. Wilkinson is also survived by his brother and wife, Col (Ret) Richard F. Wilkinson (Margaret) of Williamsburg, VA as well as by a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at Walnut Hill Baptist Church, 310 S. Blvd. Petersburg. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 A.M. Following the church service, the burial will take place at Southlawn Memorial Park in Prince George. Afterwards, a luncheon reception will be held at the church, sponsored by the members of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Walnut Hill Baptist Church General Fund, the American Diabetes Foundation, the Southside Virginia Emergency Crew, Inc. or a charity of your choosing. The family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorrisscom .