Obituary: Charles Wendell Wilkins

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Charles Wendell Wilkins, 78, a resident of Stonefort, died 3:42 a.m. Sunday, July 24, 2011, at his residence.

He was born on Aug. 15, 1932, in Pope County to the late George Wilkins and Peggy (Hancock) Wilkins. He married Norma "Cookie" King on Aug. 16, 1955.

He was a veteran of the Korean War and retired from the United Mine Workers of America. He was a member of Stonefort Masonic Lodge No. 495, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, a member of American Legion Post No. 364 in Carrier Mills and a lifetime member of VFW No. 1301 in Marion. He was a member of Stonefort Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Norma "Cookie" Wilkins of Stonefort; a son, Jeff (Parys) Wilkins of Carrier Mills; and two brothers, Carl Wilkins of Herrin and Mark Wilkins of Stonefort.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Wanda Hart; and three brothers, Jim Wilkins, Doug Wilkins and Ralph Wilkins.

Visitation is 9 a.m. to service time at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills, with the Rev. Gordon Smith officiating. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery in Carrier Mills with military honors by the Carrier Mills and Harrisburg American legions. The family requests that flowers please be omitted.