Thomas Frank Wilkerson, Sr.,
Funeral services for Thomas Frank Wilkerson, Sr., 72, of Auxvasse, Missouri, formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013, at Victory Family Worship Center, 904 W. Main Street, West Plains, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Wilkerson entered into Glory at Audrain Medical Center on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.
He was born on November 25, 1940 in Rombauer, Missouri, the son of the late Clyde and Treveal (Fowler) Wilkerson. Tom attended Canalou and Lilbourn High Schools in Southeast Missouri where he played basketball. He graduated from Lilbourn High School in 1959. Tom was a veteran, having served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965 where he earned the Supply and Transport Battalion Soldier of the Quarter Award and was in the United States Army Reserve until 1969. On March 5, 1966, he was married at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clayton, Missouri, to Louise Nadine Click. Tom worked at Continental Can Company in St. Louis for several years. He retired from Continental Can in 1975 and relocated his family to the West Plains, Missouri area. He was the owner and operator of Toms’ Barber shop in West Plains, Missouri for many years. He and his wife also owned and operated a general store at Pottersville, Missouri, the Two-Way Cafe in West Plains and Once Upon a Time Antique Shop at their farm on Route K. In addition, Tom held many side jobs including buying and selling livestock, serving as a reserve Howell County sheriff’s deputy, hauling water, and owning and managing rental properties with his wife. Tom also volunteered as a church bus driver and Royal Rangers sponsor at First Assembly of God in West Plains. After moving to Auxvasse, Missouri in 2001, he served on the Auxvasse City Council from 2006 to 2008. Tom is best known by his many family and friends for his kindness and sense of humor. He loved spending time with his kids and grandkids, going to auctions, and keeping up with current events. Tom was of the Christian faith.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Wilkerson, of the family home; three children, Thomas Wilkerson Jr. and wife, Nicole (“Kanova”) , Jefferson City, Missouri, Anna Corman and husband, Gene, Pomona, Missouri and Mike Wilkerson and wife, Lisa, Cottonwood, California; nine grandchildren, Emily and Trevor Wilkerson, Chris, Hunter, and Molly Corman, Alysa, Natalie, and Emily Panks Wilkerson and Weston Wilkerson who is due to make his appearance in February; five brothers, Norman and wife, Eva, Carmen and wife, Sharon, Jerry, Doyle and wife, Sandy, all of Auxvasse, Missouri and Steve and wife, JoAnn, Fulton, Missouri; five sisters, Norma Arehart, Issaquah, Washington, Hazel Martin, O’Fallon, Missouri, Jobina Bridges and husband, Walter, Montgomery City, Missouri, Mabel Selph, O’Fallon, Missouri and Eva Garner, Auxvasse, Missouri; five brothers in-law, Bob Mischnick, Fulton, Missouri, Leon Garner, Dresden, Tennessee, Herb Gan, Haywood, California, Richard Flechsig, Atlanta, Georgia and Dean Click, wife, Rose, Conway, Arkansas; three sisters in-law, Katie Wilkerson, Wright City, Missouri, Anita Gan, Fremont, California and Juanita Flechsig, State of North Carolina; many special nieces and nephews; and good friends David Welch and Boyd Hodges.
He is preceded in death by his infant son, Matthew Timothy, his parents, two sisters, Patricia Mischnick and Wanda Garner, two brothers, Kermit and Jeff Wilkerson, three brothers-in-law Fred Arehart, W.J. Selph, and Glen Martin, two nieces and one nephew.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2013 at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Pottersville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project or ProLife Across America, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
MIssy Hooks
January 9, 2013 @ 1:14 pm
Dearest Louise and family,
My deepest condolences go out to you all. I pray for strength for your family during this difficult time. Tom was a wonderful “one of a kind”!!! I always enjoyed his sincerity usually followed with some type of joke or comment that always brought a smile to one’s face, especially mine! He will be deeply missed by many though we all know he is finally free. Try to take this time to celebrate the good he brought, always hold on to memories (good and bad) because each one plays a part in who he was.
For whatever reason, one memory I have of Tom and Louise, was that she always had to fry him bacon every morning! He loved his bacon! Funny the things we remember! Or that usually I had to just stare at him directly in the eyes and just sit there for a minute to filter what he has just said to me, only to see those eye brows start lifting because it was…once again…a joke! He was full of them and that’s one of the many things that made him who he was. You have to have fun in life and that is one thing I always knew Tom for, was bringing a smile to someones face.
God Bless You All.
Missy Hooks
Keith Weaver
January 10, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
Louise and family,
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
Tracy Flechsig Smith
January 10, 2013 @ 5:12 pm
Dear Aunt Louise, Tommy, Anna & Mike & extended family,
My heart is so very saddened at the loss of the best Uncle I could have ever hoped for in my life. I wish I could wrap my arms around each one of you and be there with you during this time. I still can’t believe this is real, but only time will help us get through the days and months ahead. Uncle Tom was very important to me and such a good Uncle to me, Brad & Monica. I always enjoyed sitting & talking with him and the family and I feel so blessed he gave me so many memories I still cherish and will forever. His laughter, his jokes, his bone-crunching hugs, his lively conversation, and his practical jokes often played with the assistance of his partner in crime, my Dad. I still tell people about the conversation he and I had about grits. I was describing a way that I fixed them and he said, “I tried grits once. Didn’t like ’em.” When I asked him what he put on them he said, “Nothing.” I told him he should have at least added butter, salt and pepper he looked suprised and said, “Oh. Well that must have been what was wrong with those grits!” Even my friends laugh…so as we learn. Our lives and the stories we create affect so many. His love for my cousins Tommy, Anna & Mike was always evident. He was very proud of each of you and even I saw that. My dearest Aunt Louise, you were his rock and I will always always cherish the times just you, me and Uncle Tom would sit, drink coffee and just talk about anything and everything. I send you my love and prayers that as the pain of this loss eases the memories of love, laughter & happiness will surround you each and every day. The love between you was a great example and is a great example of loyalty, commitment, balance & faith in each other. Personally, Uncle Tom was a gift to me. Some say to not live with regret, but I cannot help but be sad and regret that I was not able to visit more. Yet I know we cannot determine the time God gives us.
My deepest love to all of you and sending hugs from Georgia.
Tracy Flechsig Smith
Rex Hayes & Betty Sue Coyle
January 10, 2013 @ 9:58 pm
sorry to hear your lose of your dad and husband and he was a good landlord and a good barber to and miss him cutting my hair. I am Jack Bass grandson Betty Sue Coyle is Jack’s daughter. We will be praying for you all and Tom will be missed dearly.
Sue Olszewski
January 11, 2013 @ 12:04 am
Hi Aunt Louise,
I’m heart broken…..my ‘one of two’ favorite uncles in the world….it doesn’t matter that I have not seen you for decades or just talked to you both once in a while. You both are always in my thoughts. I ‘often’ tell Gail how nice and funny Uncle Ron always was.
My only bright spot when living in Mo. was having you both just around the corner. Of course I used to camp out and practically live at your house because I loved you both so much and you made me feel so good being so far away from home.
Last year I scanned into my digital photo frame, all those pictures from the last sixties when you guys came to see us on vacation in the Bay Area. Remember when we went to S.F.? Nevada? Monterey? My favorite picture is of me, Uncle Ron, my sister sitting on our couch, all three making that silly face.
Also when I was even younger, visiting Grandma and Grandpa when they lived in Audibon Park and Uncle Dean, my Dad, and Uncle Ron sandwiched Grandpa on the couch, puffed themselves up and sat up so straight and looked down at Grandpa, they were all laughing so hard in the picture and little Grandpa put his elbows out pushing them back and laughing. Best picture ever!
Wish I were there for you. When you called a couple of weeks ago and I talking to Uncle Ron for a minute, he said ” I ‘will’ see you again!” I knew he was saying good-bye. I got off and had a good cry….but would have preferred to have been in person for a good hug.
Hang in there. I love you so much!!!!!
Sue Olszewski
January 11, 2013 @ 10:46 am
Everyone must think I posted to the wrong place….calling him Uncle ‘Ron’. That’s the only name I ever new him by……so funny to me to see ‘Tom’. So long ago, that I cannot even remember why he used to be called ‘Ron’
Connie Cashion
January 11, 2013 @ 3:00 pm
Dear Sister Louise, and family , I am so sorry for your loss , Bro Tom was a joy and loved the twinkle in his eye when he would tell me he was the better half, He use to tell me at church that the following Sunday he was going to sing a solo ,but when that Sunday would come around he would tell me that he was afraid of showing up everyone else so wouldn’t do it this Sunday lol . He was a joy , But there is no joy compared to the way Bro Tom skipped and ran thru the gates of Heaven to hug his precious Heavenly Father , And can you only imagine seeing all the loved ones that had gone on before , But I bet he swapped stories with Noah on the building of the ark lol Or Ask Moses how it felt while God was using him lol I see him running in Heaven Oh what a day that will be , when we all get to go home , I’m sure Tom will be waiting with that cute grin of his saying What took you so long. I will miss my Brother and pray that Peace will fall upon you and the family knowing that my brother fought a good fight and that he did stand before the Father hearing well done . Sending you all my love and your in my prayers. Sincerely your sister in Christ , Connie Cashion