IN LOVING MEMORY OF
John
Wilkinson
February 1, 1923 – February 2, 2017
Obituary
John F. Wilkinson, age 94, passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
John was born in Northampton, England on February 1, 1923 to Jack and Eleanor Wilkinson. He attended a private boarding school and after the Second World war began John joined the British Royal Air Force and trained and served a distinguished career as an Ace Spitfire fighter pilot having shot down five enemy aircraft. After the war, John came to the United States and attended seminary school at Unity Institute in Kansas City. He met his first wife there and became a Pastor. They had a daughter named Heide. John was then divorced in the early 1970's. As luck would have it he went to his first and last Parents Without Partners and met his current wife, Joyce. They were married in 1974.
John and Joyce lived a good life in California then retired to Washington State. In 2006 they moved to Spearfish to be near David and Brian and their families. He promptly became involved in local churches and the flying community. His last ten years were the happiest and most active he had since the Spitfire days.
There are so many other things to say about the wonderful man, John. He was loved and touched by everyone he met. He affected everyone he met in a very positive way. Always a smile and always good things to say about everybody and everything he was blessed with.
He was active in the retired military community having written a book, "The Lord Is My Shepherd", about his time before and during the time he was a pilot. He has given many talks about the book over the last several months. John was an active member of the Solid Rock Church in Spearfish.
He is survived by his wife Joyce; a sister in England; two nephews and two stepsons, David McDowall of Spearfish and Brian McDowall of Montgomery, Alabama. His daughter Heidi Eyler predeceased John. Memorial services will be held at Soild Rock Church on Friday, February 17th at 3:00 PM. Inurnment will be held at a later date
Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com
John was born in Northampton, England on February 1, 1923 to Jack and Eleanor Wilkinson. He attended a private boarding school and after the Second World war began John joined the British Royal Air Force and trained and served a distinguished career as an Ace Spitfire fighter pilot having shot down five enemy aircraft. After the war, John came to the United States and attended seminary school at Unity Institute in Kansas City. He met his first wife there and became a Pastor. They had a daughter named Heide. John was then divorced in the early 1970's. As luck would have it he went to his first and last Parents Without Partners and met his current wife, Joyce. They were married in 1974.
John and Joyce lived a good life in California then retired to Washington State. In 2006 they moved to Spearfish to be near David and Brian and their families. He promptly became involved in local churches and the flying community. His last ten years were the happiest and most active he had since the Spitfire days.
There are so many other things to say about the wonderful man, John. He was loved and touched by everyone he met. He affected everyone he met in a very positive way. Always a smile and always good things to say about everybody and everything he was blessed with.
He was active in the retired military community having written a book, "The Lord Is My Shepherd", about his time before and during the time he was a pilot. He has given many talks about the book over the last several months. John was an active member of the Solid Rock Church in Spearfish.
He is survived by his wife Joyce; a sister in England; two nephews and two stepsons, David McDowall of Spearfish and Brian McDowall of Montgomery, Alabama. His daughter Heidi Eyler predeceased John. Memorial services will be held at Soild Rock Church on Friday, February 17th at 3:00 PM. Inurnment will be held at a later date
Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com
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