Obituary

Thomas dee wilkerson, 88 passed away from this life on may 2, 2017.

Tom was born in washington dc at walter reed army hospital on april 15, 1929, the son of the late dr. William v. And alice vining wilkerson.

Tom attended prenter grade school in boone county for six years before entering fork union military academy, fork union, virginia for the next five years. He graduated from fork union military at the age of 16, the youngest cadet to graduate at the age at that point of time. He attended the university of virginia for two years, and then transferred to marshall university, where he earned a bs degree in chemistry and zoology. He also did graduate work at marshall, but entered washington and lee school of law, in lexington, va where he earned his juries’ doctor degree in 1958.

At the mid-point of his law school attendance, tom was married to sandra t. Snyder, also a marshall graduate, who taught school in rockbridge county, virginia while tom finished his law degree.

Tom and sandra are the parents of three children; fredrick s. Wilkerson (wife lynn) of charlotte, nc; james b. Wilkerson (john auge) of charleston as well as cynthia w. Hanna of charleston. They also have four grandchildren, samantha hanna of charleston, jamie hanna of morgantown, wv and joy b. Callaway (husband john) and jed d. Wilkerson, (wife hannah) of charlotte, nc. They have two great-grandchildren, alevia taye callaway and john fredrick callaway of charlotte, nc.

Following the graduation from washington and lee school of law, wilkerson returned to west virginia, passed the bar and served as an attorney with the west virginia public commission for two years.

In 1960, wilkerson joined the northwestern mutual life insurance company in charleston as director of research and analysis. He earned his c.L.U. Designation, and in 1971 became the general agent for northwestern mutual life insurance company until his retirement as general agent at age 65. He spent the next two years as a senior agent for the company when he retired at age 75

always active in business, professional and community organizations, tom served as president or chairman of many charleston and west virginia groups. He always felt that time should only be spent on organizations worth the time and effort to become chairman or president.

During his years since returning to charleston, tom had served as chairman or president of: goodwill industries of the kanawha valley; thomas memorial hospital board of trustees; the university of charleston board of trustees; general agents and managers association and chartered life underwriters association.

Tom served as a director of the kanawha valley bank, one valley bank and bb&t for more than twenty-six years. He was an active member of the marshall university board of advisors, the board of governor’s as well as on the marshall university foundation.

There will be a private memorial service for the family saturday, may 6, 2017 followed by a celebration of tom’s life for family and friends between 5:00 to 7:00 p.M. At cindy’s home located at 775 lower donnally road, charleston, wv.

In lieu of flowers the family request contributions made to: kanawha hospice care, 1606 kanawha blvd, west, charleston, wv 25387.

You may send condolences to the family at: www.Barlowbonsall.Com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.