William J. Wilkinson, III
October 22, 1950 ~ January 29, 2013
William J. Wilkinson, III, Capt., US Coast Guard (Ret).,
of Vienna, Va., passed away on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of Candace L. Wilkinson, devoted father of William J. IV (Nicole), Chadd, Adam and Tyler Wilkinson; brother of Jeff Wilkinson and Kriss Wilkinson Petruzelli; grandfather of Emma and Lauren Wilkinson. He will be missed by his pets, Rocco and Czar. Capt. Wilkinson was a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, Class of 1973. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
of Vienna, Va., passed away on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of Candace L. Wilkinson, devoted father of William J. IV (Nicole), Chadd, Adam and Tyler Wilkinson; brother of Jeff Wilkinson and Kriss Wilkinson Petruzelli; grandfather of Emma and Lauren Wilkinson. He will be missed by his pets, Rocco and Czar. Capt. Wilkinson was a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, Class of 1973. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Please accept our deepest condolences. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Brad and Donna Updegrove
My prayers and love are with all of you.
Candy and family, Joe & Kris, Jeff and Cole, We wanted to offer our love, prayers and support to all of you. Please know that God is caring for you through the hands and hearts of others. Love,
Great sense of humor. A lot of fun at the shrimp and crab feasts. Pretty good ping pong player, but I’m pretty sure I still have the lead in the win column in head to head. I’ll miss you, Captain. Chad and I will hit some home runs for you this spring. You all are in our prayers. Dave, Fiona, and Andrew Parnigoni
Wilkinson Family my heart goes out, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Bill is outstanding man, he’ll never be forgotten by me. Until we can meet again Bill, Rest in Peace. Forever friend.
We’ll miss you Wilky! My sincere sympathy to you all. Requiescat in Pace. Rick Stober USCGA ’73
Candy and family: So sorry to hear this news. Bill and I could have shared some very interesting stories of our cadet days – now they are my secrets. Bill was a good friend and wonderful member of the Class of 73 family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. And a very special prayer for Bill as well. Best regards, John
Our deepest condolences at this time of bereavement. A fine shipmate and a great guy. He will be missed by us all. Mike Rosecrans CGA ’73
I am so sorry for your loss. Bill was a friend and classmate. He will be missed.
My family’s thoughts and prayers are with all of you and your family. It is always sad to hear of the loss of such a great guy and classmate. May Bill rest in peace.
Bill was a Senior’69 Sherman Bearcat classmate of mine. He was loved by so many here in Sherman. Thoughts and prayers to the family from his friends at Sherman High School.
Please accept our condolences and prayers as we too mourn Wilkie’s passing and honor his life.
I had the great pleasure of being in the same company as Bill for 3 of our 4 years at CGA. I roomed with him for a quarter and found out the incredible humor this man could generate with almost anything or anybody. Boy, was it fun! Bill gained the nicknames of “Wendell” (after Wendell Willkie, who ran for president in 1940), and “Billy Wilk”, just because it rolled off the tongue so easily. One of our classmates was so impressed with Bill that he thought they should make a movie titled “A Man Called Billy Wilk”, along the lines of that early ’70s movie “A Man Called Horse”! I saw Bill only once after graduation, in San Pedro, CA, when he was on mid-patrol break as CO in RESOLUTE and I was XO in VENTUROUS. I remember the red captain’s cabin with the fireplace! Bill was always way ahead of me – I don’t know how he did it, but he sure had the smarts to make things go the way they should. He will be sorely missed. Randy “Wrong Way” Corrigan, fellow classmate
With deepest sympathy to family and friends. A good officer and a great classmate. Crossed the bar far too early.
My family’s thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. May your faith and memories help you through your grief.
Even though I knew Bill for only a relatively short time, I have never forgotten him, or his sense of humor and zest for life. We roomed together for a while, and shared some good times and crazy antics. I have fond memories of him. My deepest condolences to his family.
Bill was a classmate in ’73 whom I remember as kind and decent guy with a bright and engaging sense of humor. My fondest thoughts for you. Bob McDaniel
When one of us departs our small company, a little part of all of us goes with them. My very deepest sympathy to all of the family. From AE Houseman: One stanza of an Athlete Dying Young. Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honors out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man.
“Eternal Father, Lord of Hosts…. Grant them from Thy great throne above the shield and shelter of Thy Love”. In still moments may you remember the happy times and find comfort in these memories. Wendell will be missed. Michael & Cindy Ashdown
Many good memories at CGA and on the USCGC Mackinaw summer of 1970. Bob Gamble Class ’73
Bill was a classmate, good friend and fellow Texan. I remember driving back to the Academy with him Christmas of ’72 in his Chevy SS-396 (which he brought back to the Academy “illegally.”). He drove that car just like he lived — with spirit! I will miss his hearty laugh and keen sense of humor.
I want to express our condolences to Candice and the family. Bill was a great classmate and friend. We served in Acquisition together in CG Headquarters where he helped me be successful. He always looked to help others. We will all miss him.
My prayers and thoughts go out to Wendel’s family and friends. He was a fun and colorful friend, classmate and a roommate while at CGA. I did string many a racket for the man who played tennis with a passion. I last saw him at CGHQ about the time when he was deep selected for LCDR. He will truly be missed by us all.
Candy & Family, Sorry to here of Bill’s passing. Bill had a heart of gold, a good man who will be greatly missed by all. Prayers to the family.
Thoughts & prayers are with your family in this time of your loss. CGA Classmate.
I was an Academy classmate of Bill’s. So sorry to hear of his passing. You have my deepest sympathy.
I am so sorry for your loss. I attended Sherman High School with Bill; he graduated with my husband, Randy Shirley in 1969 & I graduated in 1970. I will always remember Bill’s smile. May God and friends and family give you comfort during this sad time.
Our thoughts are with you are this difficult time. Ann and Mark
My condolences to the family of my High School friend and classmate. To his son’s I would say that Bill has set the bar very high for you to continue the legacy which the Wilkinson family has given to you. Having known his father also, I can say that there is a wonderful tradition to uphold. God Bless you all in this time grief.
Chadd and Family – Part of the joy of playing baseball together was seeing your Dad either along the fence or right behind the dugout during games. He was always very good to me, and I enjoyed his great sense of humor. It’s obviously been a number of years since those days, but I wanted to send my condolences to you and your family. He was a good man in my book.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Charles (and Mary Ann) King CDR, USCG(Ret) Class of 1971
We are so sorry for your loss. Bill was always smiling and upbeat, no matter the circumstances. He will be missed. He was known by all in the CGA class of 1973 as a true friend and shipmate. Bill and Linda Spitler
Farewell to a classmate and shipmate. To paraphrase Shakespeare: He who shared Chase Hall with me shall be my brother. We few, we happy few.
Candy and Chadd – I share Bobby’s memories of Bill as a faithful father on the sidelines. A lot of time has passed since then and it has been great to re-connect with both of you in the last couple of years. Our whole family joins Bobby in sending condolences. Vienna is a small town and our family feels for your family right now.
My deep condolences to the extended families of Bill. I worked with Bill when he was the Acquisition Program Manager of the WLB (225′ Juniper Class buoy tenders} and WLM (175′ Ida Lewis Class buoy tenders). He and I discussed the status of the construction daily along with a myriad of other issues…including many personal issues about things ranging from cars to the Coast Guard. He was a frequent visitor to Marinette, Wisconsin where the tenders were being built. He and I got along extremely well. He was a gentleman, had a great sense of humor, and an unforgettable trademark “gravely voice”. He is much too young to die and his passing was a shock to me. May all his family and friends hold his memories close to their hearts. I always will.
I am shocked to hear of Bills death. I was a classmate of his in high school and had not seen him in a long time. My prayers to his wife and family and may God Bless.
I am sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. He was a good friend of mine at the Coast Guard Academy. Memories of Bill still make me smile. Mark Piennett
Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Reflecting on the many memories as classmates at CGA and the the good fortune to work will Bill on several CG tours bring the same memories…amazing intellect, quick wit, stories of your family, and his infectious laugh.
It is with great sadness that I received the news of Bill’s passing. I remember a very stable, robust man who loved life and people. I had not seen him since “73” but the memory has not faded. John “Pendy” Pendegraft CGA 73
Candy, I was Bill’s XO on Resolute from 1998 to 1989. I learned much about patrolling the Great Northwest from him but much more about the passion of being at sea. I am very gratefull for those memories.
My heartfelt condolences to Bill’s family. He and I were good friends in high school (SHS class of ’69). I have great memories of the times we spent together in Sherman. May he rest in peace.
We are so sorry for your loss.
Dear Candy, We have such wonderful memories of you and Bill as our first Coast Guard friends. We had the pleasure of meeting Bill when he arrived in Puerto Rico as a brand new Ensign stationed in San Juan on the USCGC Sagebrush. What a charming, handsome and brilliant man! Then he brought his beautiful bride down and we all became fast friends. Galen always has had such respect for Bill. There are no words to express our sorrow, but we know he has left behind a legacy that is rich and deep and will live on through your sons. My God comfort you and your family during this difficult time. With our love, Kym & Galen (USCGA 72)
My deepest sympathy. I remember Bill as a great guy ready with a joke or a helping hand. He will be missed.
Dear Candy, Bill, Chad, Adam and Tyler, My deepest sympathies for your loss of Bill. I’ve never been able to visit all of you, but I know he was a wonderful husband, father, and friend to you all. May the Lord give you an abundance of comfort during this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Andrea
Bills unique and infectious laugh always buoyed the spirits of his fellow classmates at the CG Academy. We crossed paths a few times following graduation, but never had the opportunity to serve on a tour together. I do know that, had that occurred, that assignment would have been much more interesting and very much more memorable.CGA 73
Missed the notice while traveling but must add a comment about Bill — always appreciated his laughs and good humor. He always had a smile (or smirk!) on his face and added a positive energy to a room. Respected by all his classmates and fellow workers. Sorry to hear of your passing my friend.
Bill and I were fellow ORSA grads. We overlapped at HQ and here in Astoria. We will miss you Bill. My condolences.