Paul Leo Wilkens

WILKENS, Paul Leo, was born December 31, 1926 in Dayton, Ohio. Paul was the only child of Leo Henry Wilkens and Frances Marie (Brucken) Wilkens. Paul went home to the Lord on October 1, 2011, surrounded by family. Paul attended grade school at St. Anthony’s and then St. Agnes in Dayton, and high school at Chaminade, where he graduated in 1944. He then served his country in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a part of the occupation of Japan, where he ran the port of Yokohama, the largest port in Japan, where he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant before being honorably discharged on Christmas Day, 1946. He was back home in Dayton by his 20th birthday. He enrolled at the University of Dayton, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in Economics, in 1950. Paul started his career at Delco Products Division of GM in the summer of 1950 in Production Control. He worked his entire career there, while pursuing an MBA at UD, eventually rising to the position of General Superintendent of Production and Material Control for Dayton Operations, retiring in 1987. Paul is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan (Kuntz) Wilkens, of Kettering; son Paul L. Wilkens, Jr. and wife Heidi of Centerville; daughters Lisa Shiley and husband Robert of Fountain Valley, CA; Diane Medina and husband Ray of Artesia, CA; Lynne Travis and husband Randy of Tomball, TX; Joan Martin and husband Ray of Niceville, FL; and son Dr. Robert Wilkens and wife Michelle of Washington Township. He was also survived by grandchildren Elizabeth (Wilkens) Fleming and husband Erik, and John Paul Wilkens; Joseph and Susie Shiley; Michael and Ariel Medina; John Michael and Matt Husk; Mandalay and Raymond Martin; Bobby, Brucken, Paulie, Gracie, and Sammy Wilkens; great-grandson Braden Fleming; and numerous nieces, nephews and Godchildren. Paul was a charter member of St. Charles Parish in Kettering, where he served as an usher. He was also an avid member of the Flyer Faithful and was a member of the Golden Flyers. The family will receive friends at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME-FAR HILLS CHAPEL, 5471 Far Hills Ave. at Rahn Rd. Thursday, October 6, 2011, from 5 to 8 pm. Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 am Friday, October 7, 2011, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 4500 Ackerman Blvd. Entombment, Calvary Cemetery. Donations may be made to the University of Dayton General Scholarship Fund, In memory of Paul L. Wilkens, Development Office, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-0246 or online at, support.udayton.edu. Online condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.