Joe R. Wilkins, age 87, of Adrian, MI passed away March 24, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born May 20, 1933, in Central City, KY, the son of Joe Pat and Ola Mae (Clark) Wilkins. On August 23, 1952, he married Patricia S. Slayton in the Deerfield Gospel Temple, Deerfield, MI. Joe served his country in the as a Corporal in the 811th 3rd U.S. Army Unit during the Korean War from 1953 - 1955. He started working a Revco in January of 1952 in Deerfield until 1968. Joe spent his remaining years at Georgia Pacific in sales, serving as their top packaging engineer, retiring in 1995. Joe had many vacations with his wife Pat and three children when they were at home. Following retirement, Joe & Pat spent sixteen years as snowbirds in Florida and also traveled to Europe. Joe is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patricia Wilkins; his children, David Joe (Karen) Wilkins, Linda Lubrano, and Randall L. (Teresa) Wilkins; his grandchildren, Lucas David Wilkins, Jessie Jeremiah Wilkins, Lisa Marie (Brandon) Anderson, and Katherine Grace (Reece) Baker; and his great grandchildren, Brook, Chase, Henry, Maggie, and Lily Kate Baker and sister in law, Donna Wilkins and first cousin, Nora Dennis Cannon. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Barbara Jean Walton, Ann Winstead-Miller, Billy Ray Wilkins, and Wanda Fay Will; brothers and sister in laws, Charlie Walton, Bill Winstead, and Troy Will. Joe loved his family dearly and was a dedicated family man. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, 2959 N. Adrian Hwy, Adrian, MI, with Pastor Scott Winstead & Pastor Rick Deisler officiating. (WATCH LIVE LINK) Burial will follow in Deerfield Cemetery with Military Honors performed by the Tecumseh American Legion & Tecumseh VFW Honor Guard. Visitation will also be on Wednesday from 11:00 AM until the time of service at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Adrian, MI. Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to the Adrian Salvation Army, WLMB-TV40, and Campus Crusade for Christ International. Joe's funeral service will be streamed live online. A link will be available on Joe's obituary page at: www.PurseFuneralHome.com
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