Charles Francis Wilkins

Charles Francis “Chuck” Wilkins was born May 9, 1952 in Buffalo, New York to Francis and Phyllis (Lewis) Wilkins, and passed away with family at his side in Portland, Oregon on September 30, 2016 at the age of 64.

Chuck was educated at Benson High School in Portland and Cal Tech (where he received an AA in Electronics). He served two tours of duty with the US Army in Vietnam, receiving three Purple Hearts, and after his honorable discharge as a Sergeant, served with the California Highway Patrol and on the Portland Police Bureau Reserves for twenty years. He then worked as an office machine technician, a position he held until retirement.

On November 22, 1986, he and Vera McConnell were united in marriage at Temple Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. They worshiped at Temple Baptist, where Charles was a Sunday School teacher (for junior high school boys) for over ten years and served in church leadership positions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his first wife, Marilyn Feiss Wilkins.

He will be missed by his loving wife of thirty years, Vera McConnell Wilkins, brothers Bruce Wilkins and Phillip Wilkins, both of California, four brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and many close friends.

A memorial service will take place at Temple Baptist Church, 1319 NE 7th Ave 97232 in Portland, on Thursday, October 20 at 7:00 PM.

Donations to either Temple Baptist Church or the Wounded Warrior Project would be greatly appreciated by Chuck’s family.