Carl K. Wilkinson

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Carl K. Wilkinson

Oct. 7, 1945 - June 22, 2016

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Carl K. Wilkinson, 70, departed this world to join his Lord and Savior in Heaven on June 22, 2016, in San Antonio.

He was born in Saybrook, Ohio, on Oct. 7, 1945, to Kenneth and Katheryn (Proctor) Wilkinson.

Carl excelled in roller skating, track and archery during his school years, graduating from Ashtabula High School in 1963. He immediately joined the Air Force and worked on the Titan II missiles using exotic fuels in Arkansas and New Mexico. After being honorably discharged in 1966, he went directly to Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Okla., where he met his future wife, Kathy Weber from Culbertson, Neb. They met each other on a double date but not with each other! On Aug. 31, 1968, they were united in marriage at the Bethel Missionary Church in Culbertson.

His hobbies were roller skating and fishing but he had always been fascinated by glass blowing. In 1973, after a career in management recruiting, he embarked on a new adventure which led both Carl and Kathy into a traveling jewelry business attending trade shows for 42 years. Eventually, with a final trip to Alaska in July of 2015, they had visited and/or worked in all 50 states.

He truly enjoyed meeting and talking with new people and they in turn enjoyed his sense of humor and kindness. His ability to find the best restaurant in any city they visited was admired by their friends. He and his wife were both involved in the Miss Rodeo Nebraska and Miss Rodeo America organizations for many years. He really enjoyed assisting the young ladies in his capacity as vice president of Miss Rodeo Nebraska. As a result of judging many pageants and getting to know many of the rodeo queens, they have a special group of chosen daughters and grandchildren.

He was a member of the National Western Stock Show Association, the American Legion, Miss Rodeo Nebraska, a Mason and a Shriner. He called Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook, Neb., his home church.

His parents and one older sister, Kaye, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Weber) of San Antonio; brother, Ralph (Janet) of Athens, Ga.; sister, Rita of Ashtabula, Ohio; nieces, Barbara (Chateaugay, N.Y.), Sandra (Atlanta, Ga.), Katrina (Erie, Pa.), and Katheryn (Conneaut, Ohio); nephews, Michael and David (Conneaut, Ohio); and a special almost daughter, Katherine Harrison (Groveport, Ohio).

There are numerous friends and family in many states that will miss his smile and good advice.

Any donations received will be given in his name to the Humane Society and the Shrine hospitals.

Services will be held at a date to be announced later.