Oct.
27, 1921 - Sept. 1, 2009SOUTH BEND - Mr. Kenneth Lawrence Wilkinson Sr., 87, passed away at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with his family at his side in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Ken was born in LaPorte, IN, on October 27, 1921, to Ralph Evans and Lillian Louise (Bluhm) Wilkinson. He moved to the South Bend area in 1948 where he established the Wilkinson Insurance Center that continued well into 2007. Mr. Wilkinson was always very active in insurance association work, having served as a past-president of the South Bend Underwriters Association as well as serving as vice president of the state association. He was a 1948 graduate of Indiana University and was past president of The Indiana University Club of St. Joseph County. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He spent a year in India flying "The Hump" across the Himalayan Mountains, supplying the Chinese Army during their fight with Japan. He completed 87 missions. He was decorated with the Air Medal with Clusters. During the service while in Ocala, FL, on June 19, 1943, he was married to Jeanne (Wright) Wilkinson, who survives of South Bend. Surviving along with his wife, Jeanne, are their four daughters, Mona W. (Don) King of Ventura, CA, Ann (Stephen) Stipher of Mission Viejo, CA, Sally (Walter) Lentine of South Bend, Pegge Abrams of Tucson, AZ; and their two sons, Kenneth L. (Patricia) Wilkinson Jr. of Arlington, TX, and Charles J. Wilkinson of Draper, UT. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The patriarch of arguably the most successful golfing family in the history of South Bend, Ken or "Sr.," as he affectionately became referred to by his friends, was a joy to play golf with. He was known for his gentlemanly way and quick wit on the golf course. He had an "off the cuff" comment for every situation a golfer might encounter during a round: "I'd rather be Lucky than Good," "That tree in your way is 90% air." A committed golfer, he continued to play golf well into his later years and gracefully but regretfully accepted the deterioration in his golf score that came with advancing age, but never gave up trying to improve his game through practice on the range or putting green. He was a longtime member of the Morris Park Country Club and served on the board of directors and many committees over the years. He had a lot of fun and earned a few trophies along the way. A celebration of his extraordinary life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, in the McGann Hay University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road near Ironwood, with Rev. David Schrader, senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. The family will greet guests one hour prior to the memorial service in the funeral home. Ken had requested that people make memorial donations rather than sending flowers so his family chose the following two programs as fitting memorials in his memory: The American Heart Association , Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL, 60674; or the Tiger Woods' Children's Golfing Program: The First Tee, World Golf Village, 425 South Legacy Trail St., Augustine, FL 32092. To send condolences to the family or for directions, log on to www.McGannHay.