Willard Earl Pilkington

Willard was born on December 6, 1929, Laird, Colorado to Webster Pilkington and Beulah Garner Pilkington. Raised in northeastern Colorado, he graduated from Laird High School, 1947.

Willard married Alice Anne Devlin at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Wray, Colorado on January 5, 1948. They spent time in Laird, Wray, and Akron, Colorado, before moving to Longmont in 1956.

Willard worked as an accountant with IBM in the Longmont/Boulder plant before being transferred to North Carolina. Upon his retirement with IBM, he and Alice Anne returned to Longmont.

Willard and Alice Anne were active with both St. John the Baptist and St. Francis of Assissi Catholic Churches. His faith was an important, integral part of his daily life and routine. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Willard enjoyed working in his rose garden, playing golf, and cards with family and friends. Some of his favorite pastimes with the family included fishing and camping. He love family get-togethers and could always be counted on to bring his dry sense of humor. He volunteered along side his wife with the council of Catholic Women and they were facilitators of Centering Prayer workshops with Contemplative Outreach for over 20 years.

Preceding him in death are: his son, Ronald, three sisters, Carol Faye Pilkington, Connie Haselbush and Fern Deines, two grandchildren, Emily Pilkington and Evan Pilkington.

Surviving are his wife, Alice Anne, Longmont; ten children, Andrew (Victoria) Pilkington, Colorado and Oregon; Anna Mary (Leland) Platt, Longmont; Theresa (Richard) Morison, Longmont; James Pilkington, San Diego, California; V. Mark (Karen) Pilkington, Berthoud; Leo (Tammy) Pilkington, Yuma, Arizona; Judith (Rob) Orbanosky, Longmont; Christopher (Julie) Pilkington, Yuma, Arizona; Louis (Denise) Pilkington, Westminster; and Brian (Angie) Pilkington, Harrisburg, North Carolina; 23 grandchildren: Nora Peterson, Daniel Pilkington, Jessie Pilkington, Jacob Morison, Jennifer Morison, Jonathan Morison, Drew Pilkington, Adam Pilkington, Jerry Lacoco, Thomas Pilkington, Dominic Pilkington, Mary Clare Pilkington, Sarah Wesseling, Michelle Pilkington, Mary Parker, Hannah Orbanosky, Melissa Sellers, Michael Pilkington, Katie Pilkington, Austin Pilkington, Devon Pilkington, Phillip Pilkington, Emily Pilkington, eight great grandchildren; Tianna Morison, Megan Guiterrez, McKenzie Pilkington, Logan Pilkington, Claire Pilkington, Quinn Sellers, Luke Pilkington, David Wesseling; his best friend, brother-in-law William DeLisle, Longmont; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his brother Dwayne (Edna) Pilkington, Sterling, CO and his sister Irene (Ray) Bostich, Ft. Collins, CO. and Ralph Deines of Fleming, CO. his brother-in-law.

Friday, March 22, visitation hours will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and a 7:00 p.m. scripture wake will be held at Howe Mortuary Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 23, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Longmont.

Interment will follow at the Longmont Mountain View Cemetery.