Joseph Richard Wilkinson

September 18, 1917 - January 7, 2011

Joseph Richard Wilkinson 93 passed away in Canon City, Colorado, January 7, 2011, at Skyline Village Apartments. Joe was born September 18, 1917, to Richard Senseny Wilkinson and Mary Matilda Rine Wilkinson in Fairmont, West Virginia. In December of that year his parents moved to the Denver, CO area finally settling on a 10 acre plot about 2 miles east of Littleton. Joe grew up and graduated from Littleton High School in 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression. He worked as a farm hand, service station attendant, construction worker and mechanic. On August 9, 1942, Joe married his high school classmate, Frances Fleming who had twin daughters. He adopted the twins when they were two years old. They lived in Aurora, Colorado, where he was employed at Lowry Air Force Base as an airplane mechanic working on airplane engines that supplied the power for the large bombers. Joe repaired engines for the B-24's and B17's (Flying Fortress). He also worked on various crash crews during World War II and worked in heavy construction for a short time in Leadville, CO.

In 1946, he purchased Rocky Ford Auto Parts which he ran for 33 years. He sold the auto parts store in 1978. In 1986 his wife Frances passed away and he returned to the Littleton, CO area where he met another former high school classmate, Pearl Wells. They were married for 24 years until her death in 2009.

Joe's hobbies were restoring antique cars, midget auto racing, exploring airplane museums, and operating heavy equipment and machinery. When he was in high school, he built his first Model T from parts salvaged from junk yards. During the years that he had Rocky Ford Auto Parts, he was a member of the Arkansas Valley Antique Car Club. The club members would race their Model T Ford Roadsters in various 500 mile endurance runs in Montana and Colorado. Joe also liked good music by the Big Bands of the 20's, 30's, and 40's.

He is survived by daughters Mona (Vernon) Stone of Hugo, CO. and Norma Schumer of Canon City, Colorado, grandchildren Sharla Book, Shauna Stone, Andrea Schumer and Jason Schumer, four great-grandchildren, Destrie Walters, Taryn Book, Adalyn Schumer and Ari Epshtein

Joe loved his family and was gifted with many friends throughout the state.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Community Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 13, 2011 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Sangre De Cristo Hospice, 601 Greenwood Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212. or Safe Watch, Inc., 1415 North 15th, Canon City, CO 81212. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com. http://memorial.yourtribute.com/joewilkinson/video.aspx?VideoId=40723&videoType=videotribute&mode=view ">