John Bailey Wilkinson

John Bailey Wilkinson, 97, died on September 6, 2023 at Town Village, Audubon Park. The only child of Ruth H. Wilkinson and Russell C. Wilkinson, he was born on August 30, 1926 in McGehee, Arkansas. He moved with his parents to Memphis in 1939 where he attended Snowden Junior High School and Central High School. He was a graduate of Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, Tennessee where he was a member of the track team.

He was a retired cotton buyer for L. T. Barringer and Company, a subsidiary of Cannon Mills. As a cotton buyer, he traveled from the Carolinas to California as well as Mexico. He served for several years as chairman of the Cotton Shippers Association. When L. T. Barringer and Company closed, he retired at age 55.

Following his graduation from CMA he attended Southwestern College (Rhodes) in Memphis until he volunteered to serve his county in World War II. He was assigned aboard a U.S. Navy Submarine Chaser in the Marshall and Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal as well as other commendations. When the war ended, he went with his ship to the South China Sea to help clear a Japanese minefield. Upon returning to Manilla, he helped train Philippine Military Academy Cadets to serve in the Philippine Offshore Patrol. He was a past member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

After his service in the Navy he attended the University of Miami and the University of Mississippi where he graduated with a degree in business and finance. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

As a young boy, he won the Memphis Park Commission’s Tristate Archery Championship for Intermediate Boys. He was a finalist in the North Memphis Golden Gloves and boxed in the intramurals at the University of Miami. He loved all sports especially tennis, racquetball, golf and swimming. Participating in the Memphis Senior Olympics, he won a gold, silver, and bronze medal in track and racquetball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Stanley Patch, and niece Mackenzie Patch. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Joan Head Wilkinson; two sisters-in-law, Ann Hamon of Los Altos, California and Olga Patch of Cape Charles, Virginia; two nieces, Dr. Rebecca Hamon of Adelaide, Australia and Deborah Hamon-Jannes (Chris) of Novato, California; one nephew, Berkeley Patch of Cape Charles; and one great-niece, Madeline Jannes of Novato.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Memphis Union Mission, the Red Cross, or the Church Health Center.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the Wilkinson family.