Thomas Ralph Wilkes

Thomas “Ralph” Wilkes, 89, Overland Park, KS passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. Visitation will be held at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 7023 W. 71st St, Overland Park, KS at 10:00am with Mass at 11:00am on Wednesday, December 18. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, KS immediately following Mass. Tom was born May 15, 1924 in Kansas City, MO to Robert and Lillian (Martin) Wilkes. He attended Redemptorist Grade School, De La Salle Military Academy, and the University of Kansas. He served in the Army in the European Theatre during World War II. Tom married Therese ‘Higgins’ Wilkes on August 31, 1946. Tom has been a member of the Queen of the Holy Rosary parish since 1950 where he served in many ministries including St. Mary’s Food Kitchen, usher, carpenter, and Scout leader. He was an engineer at Bendix/Honeywell for over 30 years. Tom enjoyed traveling. He made family road-trips every summer to destinations across the United States. In retirement, he and Therese traveled to Ireland and Italy. His hobbies included photography, golf, car repair, woodworking, and model trains. Tom never met a gadget he didn’t like tinkering with. He enjoyed time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren most of all. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Therese ‘Higgins’ Wilkes, by his son Anthony and wife Mary Ann, his daughter Peggy Anderson and husband Fred, his daughter Ellen Simon and husband Mark, his son Tom and wife Joan, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and his sister Joann Hentzen. His parents, his brother Robert and his sister Catherine Ditzler preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, for their ministry at St. Mary’s Food Kitchen.