Donald Wilkerson

ELKHART -- Donald "Don" Wilkerson, 80, of Bender Drive, died at 10:37 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2008) in The Hospice House, South Bend.

He was born July 8, 1928, in Spencer to Oliver and Ethel (Sulliven) Wilkerson. On March 5, 1955, he married Marietta Peters in Seymour.

She survives along with two daughters, Robin (Byron) Copeland of Crowley, Texas, and Tamie Wilkerson of Elkhart; three sons, David (Denise) Wilkerson and Greg (Eileen) Wilkerson, both of Bristol, and Mark Wilkerson of Boulder City, Nev.; four grandchildren; and one sister, Norma Jean (Al) Owens of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Delphia Davis.

Mr. Wilkerson spent nearly 33 years working in Michiana area financial institutions as a mortgage and loan officer, retiring in the early 1990s. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a longtime volunteer for the Salvation Army's Meals on Wheels program. He loved to play euchre, was an avid golfer and enjoyed teaching his sons to golf.

Mr. Wilkerson liked to take long walks in Island Park with his Yorkie, Corkie, and often stopped to feed the ducks and squirrels. His favorite team was the Chicago Bears. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a master sergeant in a mortar company. He received two Bronze Stars.

Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, and one hour prior to Monday's 11 a.m. funeral service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Elkhart. Pastor Robert Schallhorn will officiate. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, Bristol, with the Elkhart DAV 19 and U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard rendering graveside honors.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.

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