He was born to Clarence Sr. and Dorthea Wilkerson in Laredo,TX and was later raised in Donna, TX. As a young man, Clarence was active in the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle, and at the age at 16 received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
Clarence graduated as Student-Body President and Valedictorian of the class of 1962 from Donna High School and later earned his both his bachelor’s degree and a PhD in Mathematics from Rice University. He then went on to teach Mathematics at the college level and became a leading figure in the field of Algebraic Topology. He was well-known by his colleagues not only for his intellect, but also for his sharp wit and sarcastic sense of humor.
After an extensive tenure of teaching around the globe, including The University of Hawaii, Wayne State, and Purdue University, Clarence and his wife, Sharon, returned to Texas where he continued to teach Mathematics at Texas A&M. In 2013 he was inducted into the inaugural class of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society.
Clarence is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sharon; his two sons, Wendell and Christopher; his brother, Michael; and his two grandchildren, Taylor and Alex.
A celebration of Clarence’s life will be held at the Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station on August 24th at 2 p.m. The Reverend Dr. Dan De Leon of Friends Congregational Church~UCC will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please designate the Wilkerson Endowed Lectureship in the memo line of the check.
