Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 04/Dec/2020 71.223.140.136
G. Sanford "Sandy" Wilkins, Jr., age 96 years and 4 months, a resident of Marion, Indiana, since 1972, passed away peacefully in his home at 3:17 pm after a brief illness. He was born in Newburgh, New York, to G. Sanford and Florence Anderson Wilkins and was a 1941 graduate of Newburgh Free Academy. He married Rita J. Boris in August of 1945 at Stewart Air Field, New York. Sandy was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-24 co-pilot, in active duty from 1943 to 1945. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving in the New Jersey National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves for over 25 years, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He also held a multi-engine Commercial Airplane Pilot's license. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1952, he began his career with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in the Traffic Department in Harrison, New Jersey, and was promoted and transferred several times before coming to the Marion facility in 1972 as Plant Traffic Manager. He retired from this position in 1982. Sandy was a licensed Practitioner before the Interstate Commerce Commission, being enrolled in 1955, and an officer in several New Jersey Transportation organizations. An Eagle Scout (class of 1939), he was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as both a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster in the 1960s and 1970s. After his retirement from RCA, he continued and expanded his volunteering with the Boy Scouts, serving again as a Cubmaster in Marion and holding a seat on the Sagamore Council Executive Board. He retired as a BSA volunteer in 1997, after more than 35 years of service. In addition to his Scouting service, he also volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels and Cancer Services of Grant County, a "Big Brother" for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a blood donor for the South Bend Medical Foundation, a Tax Preparer for AARP, and, during income tax season, worked for the firm, Dulin Ward & DeWald, for some 17 years. Sandy was an avid golfer and modeler, building many, many scale railroad cars and circus wagons, as well as an excellent leather crafter. He was a member of the American Legion Van Buren Post #368, National Rifle Association, and St. Paul Catholic Church, where he was an usher for many years; life member of both the Reserve Officers Association of the United States and Traffic Club of Hudson County, New Jersey; and Wagonmaster in the Circus Model Builders Association. He is survived by his son, Gregory (Janice) Wilkins of Montgomery, OH; granddaughter, Stacey (Jason) Warren and great-grandson, Jacob Warren of Southgate, KY; step-grandson, David (Jennifer) Renner of Delaware, OH; nephew, Robert Joyce; and special son, John "Cole" (Nancy) Mahoney of Southboro, MA. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Richard, in August of 1965, as well as his loving wife, Rita, in August of 2009. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave, Marion IN. A funeral service to celebrate Sandy's life will take place at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory, Marion, IN, with full military honors. Social distancing and proper masking are required, with a maximum of 25 persons in the room at any given time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Thomas More University, Biology Field Station, 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, KY 41017. Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com
- To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store. Published in Home News Tribune from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, 2020.
- July 30, 1924 - November 29, 2020
G. Sanford "Sandy" Wilkins, Jr., age 96 years and 4 months, a resident of Marion, Indiana, since 1972, passed away peacefully in his home at 3:17 pm after a brief illness. He was born in Newburgh, New York, to G. Sanford and Florence Anderson Wilkins and was a 1941 graduate of Newburgh Free Academy. He married Rita J. Boris in August of 1945 at Stewart Air Field, New York. Sandy was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-24 co-pilot, in active duty from 1943 to 1945. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving in the New Jersey National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves for over 25 years, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He also held a multi-engine Commercial Airplane Pilot's license. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1952, he began his career with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in the Traffic Department in Harrison, New Jersey, and was promoted and transferred several times before coming to the Marion facility in 1972 as Plant Traffic Manager. He retired from this position in 1982. Sandy was a licensed Practitioner before the Interstate Commerce Commission, being enrolled in 1955, and an officer in several New Jersey Transportation organizations. An Eagle Scout (class of 1939), he was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as both a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster in the 1960s and 1970s. After his retirement from RCA, he continued and expanded his volunteering with the Boy Scouts, serving again as a Cubmaster in Marion and holding a seat on the Sagamore Council Executive Board. He retired as a BSA volunteer in 1997, after more than 35 years of service. In addition to his Scouting service, he also volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels and Cancer Services of Grant County, a "Big Brother" for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a blood donor for the South Bend Medical Foundation, a Tax Preparer for AARP, and, during income tax season, worked for the firm, Dulin Ward & DeWald, for some 17 years. Sandy was an avid golfer and modeler, building many, many scale railroad cars and circus wagons, as well as an excellent leather crafter. He was a member of the American Legion Van Buren Post #368, National Rifle Association, and St. Paul Catholic Church, where he was an usher for many years; life member of both the Reserve Officers Association of the United States and Traffic Club of Hudson County, New Jersey; and Wagonmaster in the Circus Model Builders Association. He is survived by his son, Gregory (Janice) Wilkins of Montgomery, OH; granddaughter, Stacey (Jason) Warren and great-grandson, Jacob Warren of Southgate, KY; step-grandson, David (Jennifer) Renner of Delaware, OH; nephew, Robert Joyce; and special son, John "Cole" (Nancy) Mahoney of Southboro, MA. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Richard, in August of 1965, as well as his loving wife, Rita, in August of 2009. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave, Marion IN. A funeral service to celebrate Sandy's life will take place at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory, Marion, IN, with full military honors. Social distancing and proper masking are required, with a maximum of 25 persons in the room at any given time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Thomas More University, Biology Field Station, 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, KY 41017. Memories may be shared online at 