Donald Lee Wilkison

The family of Don Wilkison will celebrate his life of 88 years at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. His family will also host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. He passed on Friday, May 7, 2021. We invite you to view the live-streamed service on this page, sign his virtual guestbook, and download his memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing.Donald Lee Wilkison was born on January 9, 1933, on a farm in north Lubbock County to Millard and Lottie Wilkison. He attended schools in Lubbock and Pampa, graduating from Lubbock High School in 1951. Don married Margaret Ann Caraway on August 17, 1950, and had two children, Dona and Stanley.Don spent the first years of his career working as a bookkeeper in his father’s business, the Wilkison Radiator Shop. He accepted a job at the Veteran’s Administration Regional Office in 1956. He started as a mail clerk and with the encouragement of Chief Financial Services, attended night classes in accounting at Texas Tech. This resulted in a promotion to Accounting Technician. When the regional office of the VA moved to Waco, leaving only the clinic, Don became the Operating Accountant for the clinic. In 1985, his position was transferred to a VA Hospital in Amarillo, TX. Not wanting to move, Don was granted an early Civil Service retirement after completing 28 years of service.In March 1986, Don became employed part-time for Methodist Hospital (Covenant Medical Center) in the medical records department. He retired from that job at the age of 84 after 30 years of service. He continued to volunteer at Covenant once a week until early 2020.Don truly loved his family and worked hard to make a good life for them. His faith was important to him and he regularly attended church with his family. He spent many years caring for his wife Margaret after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.In his later years, Don enjoyed traveling with his friend, George Molina. His beautiful lawn and colorful gardens were evidence of Don’s love of gardening.Don was a kind, gentle man who always put others before himself. Even in his last days, nurses and caregivers called him a “sweet man” and nicknamed him Mr. Don. He will be missed by all who knew him.Don was preceded in death by his parents, Lottie and Millard Wilkison; his wife, Margaret Wilkison; and brother, Bill Wilkison.He is survived by daughter, Dona and her husband Stan Dean of Garland, TX; son, Stanley Wilkison of Lake Forest, CA; two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, as well as several nieces and nephews.