WILLIAM RABON WILKINS
July 4, 1938-March 10, 2015
William Rabon Wilkins, 76, Winterville, N.C., died March 10, 2015, at the North Carolina State Veterans Home of Kinston, N.C.
He was born to the late William David and Thelma Westbrook Wilkins July 4, 1938, in Johnston County, N.C.
Rabon graduated from Princeton High School in 1956.
Soon after, he enlisted in the United States Army.
Years later, he married Glenda Sumner Sept. 18, 1976, and they lived several years on the outskirts of Grifton, N.C., until Rabon was transferred to Luxembourg, Europe, in 1987 to continue his career working for E.I. DuPont.
He was later transferred to Geneva, Switzerland, where he worked for DuPont an additional eight years before retiring and moving back to the states.
Once back home, Rabon was an active member of Winterville Wings, an EAA Chapter 1423 of pilots who share their passion for flight. Flying his RV 6A gave him much pleasure. Living on an airstrip was a dream come true.
However, three years later he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and eventually sold his airplane. Before his illness, he enjoyed years of golf, an occasional fishing trip, reading about history and anything about aircraft.
Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, the blues and movies were favorite pastimes. Oh, and not to forget, his beloved cat, Bustopher.
Rabon is survived by his wife of 38 years, Glenda Sumner Wilkins; two children from a previous marriage to Peggy Jackson, Renee (and husband, Larry) of Huntersville, N.C., and William Neal Wilkins of Grifton, N.C.; and four grandchildren, Amanda Wilkins, Trevor Wilkins, Jake Wilkins (and his mother, Jennifer Edwards Wilkins) and Samuel Ocheltree.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Alzheimer's Association Eastern North Carolina Chapter, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, N.C., 27612, or a charity of your choice.
Thursday, March 12, 2015, a funeral service at 7 p.m. will be held at Farmer Funeral Service in Ayden, N.C.
Visitation will follow.
Friday, March 13, at 2 p.m. burial will be at Princeton Cemetery, Donnie Jones Blvd., Princeton, N.C.
You can send online condolences to farmerfuneralservice.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 12, 2015 6:12 PM