William R. Wilkinson, October 18, 2020, of East Falls.
Beloved husband of Marie (nee McMahon). Dear father of William R. Jr. and Bryan (Kate). Loving grandfather of William III, Colin, Brooke, Bryan Jr. and Emily. Also survived by his brother-in-law Al Wendler, two sisters-in-law, Trudy McMahon and Connie McMahon, and many nieces and nephews.
Bill was married to his high school sweetheart, Marie McMahon, for 53 years.
During the Vietnam War he served in the USAF from 1966-69.
Bill coached for the EFSA for 35 years. He also coached for the 21st Ward. Bill was inducted into the Keystone State Hall of Fame. He was an AVID golfer.
He was a welder for PECO for 38 years. He spent years as a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House. Bill was a man dedicated to serving his community.
Relatives and Friends are invited to his Viewing at St. Bridget Church on Thursday October 22nd between the hours of 9 and 12. His Funeral Mass will take place at 12 noon. Interment private.
He was a fine example to all who knew him. Donations in Bill’s memory may be sent to The Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St., Phila. Pa. 19104.
When one grows up with such a wonderful human being as Bill was, it is heart breaking to say good bye. Bill was what Our Lord wants us to be in life. My condolences to Marie, Bill Jr and Bryan and families. Also to the entire East Falls community, past and present. RIP MY BROTHER. Gus DiStefano Sr.
Thank you very much for such kind words sir.
I only met Mr. Wilkinson a long time ago and he was a class act. He and his wife raised good men in Bill and Bryan and they will carry out his memory as men and sons. A wonderful husband, father, and family man. God’s eternal kingdom will embrace him.
Ryan Kuhns
Mr Wilk
What can I say about this great man.
He excepted me as a son when I met him 42 years ago. He taught me & most of East Falls boys how to play baseball. Great family man and Loved Mrs Wilk.
I was honored to know a man like Mr Wilk. Thank you for the great memories and
teaching and mentoring a kid who was lost.
Will truly miss you .
Love You Mr Wilkinson.
Bill has much an unassuming and amusing manner. He was a great gifted humanitarian as we all found out later in life. I met him when I was at schuylkill sta.as a fitter and him a welder.We developed a friendship thru the years. He will be sadly missed and was a true gentleman.
Mr. Wilk or coach as I was very lucky to call him was a great man and such a loving person in so many many ways. Thank you for all Mr Wilk!!!! Rest In Peace ❤️
Tony
Thank you my friend. I sincerely appreciate the beautiful sentiment bro.
Uncle Bill was a true gentleman and his patience, commitment to others, love for his family is a example for all of us to strive for. I will cherish the Mermaid Lake runs, East Falls sports association days, East Falls Golf Opens, Myrtle Beach trips and Christmas Eves together. We shared so many more memories and I am so grateful that he was such an important person in my life. He will forever be missed. All my love to the Wilkinson Family.
Robbie
Uncle Bill you will be truly missed. You were an amazing human being, an incredible mentor to so many kids coaching us and teaching us about how to take what we learned into life. You were a devoted father and husband and an awesome human being. Rest in peace uncle Bill
I knew Wilki as a golf friend for over 30 years. We played in a regular foursome at McCall for many years and traveled on our May golf trip for years. Even into his 70’s Wilki could hammer the ball. Bill hit the ball a long way! We shared many a laugh and beer talking baseball and the Phillies. The last round of golf in June at McCall Bill shot a 4 over par 70!! We already miss you my friend! I know you will be looking down on me each time I tee it up and I can hear you say, “Relax, Just see it and hit it!” Love to Marie and her family.
To my uncle Bill, one of the few men in my life that I Have truly respected and admired,He had a soft spoken dignity about him and when he spoke we listened And more often than not he found a Way of amusing us With an antidote or two and liked to keep things pleasant. No drama with uncle Bill. I’m not sure if he ever knew just how influential he was to me but I will never forget and in times of indecision ask myself, what would Uncle Bill do. I will miss you. To my aunt Marie one of the kindest and sweetest woman in my life and my cousin’s Billy and Bryan and the rest of the family, my heart goes out to you. God bless you all. I love you.
To my uncle Bill, one of the few men in my life that I truly respected and admired,He had a soft spoken dignity about him and when he spoke we listened And more often than not he found a Way of amusing us With an antidote or two and liked to keep things pleasant. No drama with uncle Bill, always easy going but captivating to be around.
Deepest sympathy to the Wilinson Family. Mr Wilkinson was such a great guy with a heart of gold. You will be greatly missed by many young and old in the neighborhood. RIP
I was so saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. I have so many memories of us growing up together in the Falls- What a wonderful and caring man. It was so GREAT that he got to share his love for the young people by coaching them for over thirty years. My deepest sympathy to Marie and his wonderful family. May He Rest in Peace.
What a loss to his community and friends and most of all his FAMILY.
I can’t remember a time in my life when Wilk was not in it, as a snot-nosed Kid (little sister) following my brothers around the Falls.
Bill received his well deserved wings. 🙏🙏💔💔
I’m heart broken over the loss of Mr Wilk. Rarely do any of us get to meet a man as honest, sincere, humble and patient as him. He was and always will be a role model for myself and all those who knew him. It’s with my deepest sympathies that I say that I am sorry for your loss to the entire Wilkinson family.
When you are respected for what you did for so many others whose lives you touched it is like getting the Civilian Medal of Honor. Bill earned his. May he Rest in Peace and my condolences to the family on his passing
Marty McCormick
I don’t know where to start. Mr Wilk was obviously one of the great ones. Coach mentor and friend. I remember running into him at a golf outing and he asked me how coaching was going. I told him great but I had a kid that was a great player but was struggling in the field. He was playing 1st and jabbing at balls. Mr. Wilk never saw the kid play and told me the kid needed glasses. I let it go a couple weeks and finally said something to his parents. Within a week the kid had glasses and was an all star and had a great high school career. Mr Wilk had such a huge impact on so many lives. May he Rest In Peace
“We will all remember Uncle Bill’s wonderful and gentle soul will forever. I will always have fond memories of his stories he shared with me. May he rest in peace and live on within the memories of his loved ones.”
Our deepest sympathies to the Wilkinson family. What a great friend and neighbor Bill was. Rest In Peace.
Charlie and Mary Olsen (Spedding)
I’m not usually a big public comment guy. I stay private and to myself except for people I’m very close with. Mr. Distefano and the rest were right on point and thank you. My first football team was the 65’s. I was like 8. I was fearless. Mr Wilk was firm and so at ease. I never seen him get mad or lose his cool ever. Take a knee I will never forget. As I grew older and worked at McDevitt well after he was done coaching he was always there for me and the rec. He gave me advice and guidance and he made me things to keep the fields in good shape. He always made time for me. He would make sure my putter was perfect or that my golf swing was not to fast if I asked him for help. I told his boys he always lit up when he talked about them. Always. Mr. Wilk was my Generation of EF 29 Vince Lombardi or Knute Rockne. He had that kind of impact on many of us. Thank You Mr. Wilk for always believing in me and my friends I grew up with. You left this world a better place because you were a giver. Thanks again for sharing your love with us all.
Incredible Tom. Thank you so much for honoring my father so perfectly. You have no idea what you said has meant to me.
Wilk was one of a kind. During our days at Schuylkill Station he was
always there to help. Whether it was a real job or one of my stupid projects Wilk would be there. Spent many good times at work, at Kelly’s, playing golf, out to dinner or on vacation. Wilk was one of my best friends in life and Debbie and I will really miss him.