1932
Kenneth
2015
Kenneth Wayne Wilkinson
May 19, 1932 — February 21, 2015
Kenneth Wayne Wilkinson, 82, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 816-633-5524, with Elder Tracy Dyer officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with Military Rites will be in the Odessa Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com <http://www.ralphojones.com> or on our Facebook Page.
Kenneth was born on May 19, 1932 in Bates City, MO to Earnest Brown and Cordia Viola (Haile) Wilkinson. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1950. After high school Kenneth drove a lime truck for his brother’s trucking company in the Warrensburg area. On November 25, 1952 he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Korean Conflict. Kenneth was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He briefly worked for General Motors before enlisting in the Army. He returned to GM in 1953 and married Ruth Evelyn Ferris, during the late 1950’s through the early 1970’s he drove a truck. They owned and operated the Conoco Station in Odessa. They later divorced. He married Geraldine Scott Wilkinson in 1975. After he and Geraldine were married he then started a Wrecker and Texaco Station that later turned t o a Mobile Station near the same location, at Hwy 131 and old Hwy 40. He and Geraldine opened the Downtown Café and were pillars of the community. They established a memorial garden where the previous Police Station was. He sold the Mobile Station and began working for the City of Odessa Streets Department for 13 plus years. She preceded him in death on October 13, 1994. Kenneth retired in 1998. He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church. In addition to spending time with family and friends, his hobbies include attending auctions, collecting coins, dishes and stamps, wood working, gardening, and raising exotic animals on his farm. Once he retired he continued to serve the community by joining the VFW Post 5675 Honor Guard in Odessa.
Survivors include two children, Donald Wilkinson of Raymore, MO and a daughter, Delores Honeywell and husband Leo of Independence, MO; five grandchildren, Rhian Wilkinson, Matthew Wilkinson, Laurie Ray Wilkinson, Vanessa McCarthy and Craig Honeywell; four great grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilkinson and Claire Wilkinson, Meric Evan McCarthy, Taren Cade McCarthy; a sister Earnestine Westerhold of Centerview, MO.
In addition to his wives and parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by a son David Wilkinson and a brother, Keith Wilkinson.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 816-633-5524, with Elder Tracy Dyer officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with Military Rites will be in the Odessa Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com <http://www.ralphojones.com> or on our Facebook Page.
Kenneth was born on May 19, 1932 in Bates City, MO to Earnest Brown and Cordia Viola (Haile) Wilkinson. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1950. After high school Kenneth drove a lime truck for his brother’s trucking company in the Warrensburg area. On November 25, 1952 he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Korean Conflict. Kenneth was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He briefly worked for General Motors before enlisting in the Army. He returned to GM in 1953 and married Ruth Evelyn Ferris, during the late 1950’s through the early 1970’s he drove a truck. They owned and operated the Conoco Station in Odessa. They later divorced. He married Geraldine Scott Wilkinson in 1975. After he and Geraldine were married he then started a Wrecker and Texaco Station that later turned t o a Mobile Station near the same location, at Hwy 131 and old Hwy 40. He and Geraldine opened the Downtown Café and were pillars of the community. They established a memorial garden where the previous Police Station was. He sold the Mobile Station and began working for the City of Odessa Streets Department for 13 plus years. She preceded him in death on October 13, 1994. Kenneth retired in 1998. He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church. In addition to spending time with family and friends, his hobbies include attending auctions, collecting coins, dishes and stamps, wood working, gardening, and raising exotic animals on his farm. Once he retired he continued to serve the community by joining the VFW Post 5675 Honor Guard in Odessa.
Survivors include two children, Donald Wilkinson of Raymore, MO and a daughter, Delores Honeywell and husband Leo of Independence, MO; five grandchildren, Rhian Wilkinson, Matthew Wilkinson, Laurie Ray Wilkinson, Vanessa McCarthy and Craig Honeywell; four great grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilkinson and Claire Wilkinson, Meric Evan McCarthy, Taren Cade McCarthy; a sister Earnestine Westerhold of Centerview, MO.
In addition to his wives and parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by a son David Wilkinson and a brother, Keith Wilkinson.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Wayne Wilkinson, please visit our flower store.
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