Stephen R. Wilkins, known to everyone as “Wilk”, age 72 of Kinmundy, passed away at his home on July 4, 2024, with family at his side.
Steve was born on November 11, 1951, at Castle Air Force Base in Merced County, California, the son of Mary Virginia (White) Gammon and Curtis Wilkins. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Denzil Gammon in Alma. He married Cathy Doolen in March of 1978 at the Kinmundy United Methodist Church. They were married for 46 years.
Steve worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a trainman for 42 years until his retirement. He loved the outdoors, spending time with his family and friends, and helping anybody who needed a hand. Steve was a member of the Kinmundy First United Methodist Church and played an active role in helping to secure church funding for numerous community projects: renovations and new lights at the Alma Ballpark, countless upgrades at the Kinmundy Ballpark, a new boat ramp and nature trail at Kinmundy Lake, paving roads in the City of Kinmundy, and new radios for the St. Peter Fire Department, to name a few.
Wilk lived every day to the fullest, and his love for life was infectious. He knew how to keep people on their toes and how to make them smile. He was a self-proclaimed eighty-percenter, a natural contrarian, and a practical joker. His zest for life was matched only by his quiet, unassuming kindness and charity. Wilk touched many lives, brought smiles to countless faces, and his stories will be told for a long, long time. He was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Cathy of Kinmundy; children, Leslie (Clint) Stevens of Centralia, Matthew (Brooke) Wilkins of Columbia, Kevin Wilkins of St. Louis, and “#3 son,” Kerrie Wilkinson of Kinmundy; four grandchildren, Eli Stevens, Fay Stevens, Hayes Wilkins, and Emersyn Wilkins; and siblings, Linda (Larry) Mears, Curtis “Bub” Wilkins, Karen (Paul) Castronova, and Tracey (Joe) Conway; father-in-law, Glenn Doolen of Kinmundy; brother-in-law, Steve Doolen (Jana) of Kinmundy; and sister-in-law, Leigh Ann Birdsell (Mike) of Elgen, South Carolina.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Sandy Branch Cemetery with Mike and Carol Rudzinski officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Kinmundy First United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions can be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Alma Ballpark and will be received at the church or at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem who is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences and memories can be left at www.CrouseFH.com.
