Bert H. Wilkinson Sr. 1939-2022
GARRETTSVILLE — Bert H. Wilkinson Sr., 83, of Garrettsville, joined his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, at home surrounded by his family.
He was born May 24, 1939, in Youngstown, to the late Bert H. and Dorothy Frost Wilkinson.
He remained in Youngstown until his family relocated to Girard when he was a teenager.
He attended Girard High School until his senior year, when he decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force, where he earned his GED.
He and Rose married June 29, 1957, and they lived in Bethesda, Md., until he was honorably discharged in 1961. Returning to Ohio, he worked various jobs prior to becoming employed at Flintkote.
He remained there until 1973, when he decided to become a truck driver. He trained close to 350 student drivers and earned an honorary driving award for traveling a million miles without an accident. Many knew him from the CB handle, “Pipemaker.” He enjoyed dancing, swimming, singing, tinkering with HAM radios, and playing cards and chess.
Bert will be deeply missed by his loving children, Bert Wilkinson Jr., Richard (Luanne) Wilkinson, Debra Wilkinson Reed, Mike Wilkinson, Natalie (Steve) Boey and Judy (Greg) Macek; grandchildren, Jacqueline (Eric) Davies, Sierra (David) Robinson, Aaron (Michelle) Wilkinson, Rachel (Vince) Spiiert, Tina (Mark) Gray, Misty Wilkinson, Melissa Valot, Richard (Amber) Wilkinson, Randy (Carly) Jenkins, Jessica Eckman, Jennifer Phelan, Josephine Eckman, Joy Boey, Gregory Macek, Alexander (Diana) Macek and Chelsea (Kevin) Macek; great-grandchildren, Abigail, Eliza, Brock, Asher, Jude, Lily, Benjamin, Rose, DAisy, Evelyn, Isaac, Lucas, Zoey, Jeffrey, Gavin, Ava, Olivia, Dylan, Jace, Kaylie, Halyla, Harrison, Noah, Cameron, Hudson, Ari, Carter, Kaidyn, Alexander, Ilyanah, Lailyn and Peri; and great-great-grandchildren, Ilaiah and Kingston.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rose Marie, in 2020; brothers, Clarence and Richard; sister, Clara Anne; son, David; and granddaughter, Dakotah.
Please join the family for visitation 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 10692 Freedom St., Garrettsville, where a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m.
Burial, with full military honors, will be in Meadow Brook Memorial Park. Bert will be laid to rest beside his beloved Rose and their son, David.
(special notice)