John Wilkins

The Funeral service celebrating and honoring the life of John Milton Wilkins, 80, of Nash, Oklahoma will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 15, 2020 in the Nash Christian Church.  Casual attire, jeans and plaid shirt preferred. A private graveside and Military Honors will be held at a later date in the New Home Cemetery. The public viewing will be held at Wilson Funeral Home in Pond Creek, Oklahoma during normal business hours through Thursday, May 14, 2020 and in the church on Friday May 15, 2020. Services and complete cremation care are under the direction of Wilson’s and Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Services may be viewed in real time on the Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Facebook page. Condolences and special memories may be made through our website at WWW.Brown-Cummings.com.

He was  born to Neil Alvin Wilkins and Elizabeth Amanda (McCarter) Wilkins, on January 15, 1940, in Enid, Oklahoma, as a snowstorm raged outside (as legend has it) and passed from this life on May 6, 2020, surrounded by his loving family.

After graduating from Nash High School in 1958, he entered Oklahoma A&M and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. John married the love of his life Judith Ann Hester on August 10, 1963, in Oklahoma City.  He served in the United States Air Force as a weapons controller from May 1963 to February 1968, achieving the rank of Captain.  After his active military service, his life was filled with family, farming, and firefighting.  He returned to Nash to work the family farm for many years until retirement in 2009.  In 1981 he joined the Vance Air Force Base fire department, serving until retirement in 2008.  He spent many years as a volunteer firefighter for the Nash Fire Department until 1996.  Along with many others he was instrumental in the expansion of the Nash Fire Department by significantly upgrading equipment, education, and training to better serve the Nash community and surrounding area.

He and Judith enjoyed traveling in retirement, particularly many adventures with family.  He served on the Nash Town Board for 21 years, a majority of which as Mayor. He was an Eagle Scout and served as Scout Master and Explorer Post leader. Through his leadership several scouts learned life lessons.  One notable example of this was during preparation for and participation in trips to U.S. and Canadian boundary waters launched from the Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base.  John was a father figure to many youth and young adults in the community and beyond. Those he mentored are too numerous to mention.

He served as the unofficial Town Historian of Nash, putting a passion of genealogy to work chronicling the town history as well as documenting family’s history.

He had a thirst for knowledge, history, and practical jokes.  He read profusely Scientific American, Smithsonian, Tom Clancy novels and, when needed, the applicable John Deere service manual.  With his consummate problem solving skills, he was a fabricator of tools and parts from scrap metal and/or raw stock.  There was little he wouldn’t try to fix or build. He was a Jack of All Trades and Master of Some!

John was an active member of the Nash Christian Church, and recently had been granted honorary membership in the Christian Women’s Fellowship after proving his worth in cleanup after pot luck dinners.  He was a man of integrity and quiet faith who led by example and action.  He was generous with his time, talents, and tools.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann, of Nash; son John Milton Wilkins, Jr. and partner Lisa Montgomery of Dallas, Texas; son William McCarter Wilkins and wife Lori (Owens) Wilkins of Ottawa, Kansas; daughter Mary Elizabeth Vernon and husband Rick Vernon of Altus, Oklahoma.  He is also survived by his two grandchildren which were the light of his life; grandson Tyson Mark Vernon and granddaughter Gwyneth KayAnn Wilkins.  He was survived by many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Neil A. Wilkins, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nash Christian Church, the Nash Volunteer Firefighters Association, and the OMRF, Alzheimer Division with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.