Ed Wilkins

Graveside services for Ed Wilkins, 84, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe, Louisiana with Reverend Jon Felliferro, First United Methodist Church of West Monroe, Louisiana, officiating.

Mr. Wilkins was born December 6, 1927 in Monroe, Louisiana to the late Lucile (Carver) and Aaron W. Wilkins, Sr., and died Monday, March 5, 2012 in a local hospital. He had resided in Lufkin for 48 years.

Graduating from high school at the age of 16, Mr. Wilkins waited until his seventeenth birthday to enlist in the U.S. Navy in December 1944. He served as a radar man in the Pacific on the destroyer U.S.S. Howorth, DD592, and was discharged in 1946.

Mr. Wilkins invested 55 years in the profession of forestry. He began with the Mississippi Forest Service in 1952 after graduating from Louisiana State University. In the ensuing years he worked in private industry, including Tremont Lumber Company and then Southland Paper Mill. With Southland, then St. Regis, then Champion, he served as district forester, wood procurement, and original forester in the Partners in Forestry Program. In 1980 he received a Master of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. His business as a forestry consultant began in 1985; he remained in that capacity until retirement at the age of 80.

A lifelong Methodist, Mr. Wilkins had been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lufkin and the Fellowship Sunday School Class since 1963.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Wilkins of Lufkin; sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Jill Wilkins of Allen, Andy and Olivia Wilkins of Lufkin and Duncan and Heather Wilkins of Grapevine; grandchildren, Dr. Carver Wilkins and wife Krysten of Little Rock, Arkansas, Autumn Davis and husband James of Prosper, Aaron Wilkins and wife Melissa of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Adam Wilkins of Allen, Kelsey Wilkins of Grapevine, Zack Wilkins of Allen, Hannah Wilkins and Nolan Wilkins, both of Grapevine; great-grandchildren, Makenna Wilkins, Elle Davis, Collin Wilkins and Jake Davis; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Sarah Hendricks and Armande and Bob Kennedy, all of West Monroe, Louisiana; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Wilkins was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Laura Kathleen Wilkins; brothers, Aaron Wilkins, Jr. and Danforth Wilkins; and sister, Marjorie Johnson Thompson.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Wilkins' grandsons.

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to Dr. Richard Roby and Dr. Sunil Cherry for their exceptional care given.

In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage donations to Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or online at www.hospiceinthepines.org, or a charity of your choice.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Carroway Funeral Home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.