Monday, May 7th

Ronald Wilkins of Lincoln, DE

-Nominated by daughter Cherie Wilkins of Milford, DE-

On September 25, 1940 a baby was born to Mary Wilkins, who named the little boy after her favorite actor, Ronald Reagan, who would live an amazing life and become President. Who would know that this little baby, Ronald Richard Wilkins, would live an amazing life, too.

Ronnie, as he was called then, grew up in Hillsborough, NJ on the family farm. Being the oldest of the three boys he was responsible for the majority of the farm chores, while his parents worked jobs outside the home. His chores included taking care of the cows, milking them each day, the crops, and even preparing meals. His father told him that chores came first, before homework. Even with that rule, he graduated high school. For a young boy to take care of a farm and still graduate high school is amazing.

He joined the Army two weeks after graduating. He told me that Boot Camp was easier than life at home… a lot easier. He felt this was a piece of cake compared to all the responsibility and work he endured. More than 10% of people drop out of boot camp. From what Dad said about boot camp, his thinking this was a vacation is amazing.

He married his high school sweetheart. Dad was a good provider and faithful husband, who was always kind. My parents didn’t fight. Oh, they had a few disagreements, but some were worked out right in front of us, with respectful voices debating their points. The rest were discussed in private between them and then the next day Dad would say, “Your mother and I discussed it and here is what we decided.” I was comforted in the fact that my parents were a team, supported each other. Knowing that they put each other first, made me know that I would always be taken care of. Being able to state that my parents have been fully supportive of each other, and were kind and loving to each other for over 56 years is simply amazing.

And I have to add this example. In recent years my Dad couldn’t walk, or stand, but wanted to go out to get my Mom a card. While I took him in his wheel chair, he said he was going to pick out as many cards as he could for the rest of the upcoming holidays. I think this was for Valentine’s Day? He bought Easter, Mothers’ Day, a Birthday, etc. …He must have bought five or six cards.

During his Army career he was stationed in lots of places both here and overseas. He had been stationed at Long Island, NY, Greenland, Fort Hancock, NJ, Munich, Germany, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Pentagon, Seoul, Korea, and Frankfurt, Germany and several other places.

While Dad was stationed in Kentucky, they lived close by in Tennessee. Oh, Mom loved it there. They thought it was a great place to raise a family and bought their first home. Life was great. But someone at the Pentagon requested Dad to come work there. Dad said, “When someone from the Pentagon asks for you to work for them, you go.” He had full access to every area in the building, carried a gun, had top secret clearance. So this farm boy from NJ was requested to work at the Pentagon and given full access?! That is amazing.

During his service he received three medals.

1. Army Commendation Medal - distinguishes himself by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States.

2. Armed Forces Expeditionary medal - The medal shall be awarded only for operations where a foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action was encountered.

3. National Defense Service Medal – active military during a national emergency.

One of the documents has the following statement in the citation:

Outstanding technical proficiency and initiative in accomplishing the highly sensitive responsibilities of his position. He was instrumental in establishing a sound and effective system of accountability for the large volume of classified documents maintained by headquarters. His attention to detail, even while operating under exceptionally heavy workloads, resulted in the top secret control office maintaining an impeccable record completely free of security violations or compromise of classified information.

These medals sound amazing to me.

He was a great Dad. My parents adopted a boy and opened up their home to him, treating him just like their own children. Not just any boy, not a baby or toddler, but a troubled adolescent boy. Talk about giving, being generous, and amazing.

They provided us with a great life including the stable home, loving parents, taking us to church and Sunday School. We went to the best schools, had great Christmases, summer vacations, the back yard with the pool, the dog, and anything else a kid could want. Those summer vacations included weeks at the Jersey Shore, Virginia Beach, Disney, but more importantly, Christian Festivals. It was an amazingchildhood.

Of course Dad didn’t just go and take in the festivals. He worked back stage sometimes taking us kids with him. There were fascinating people to meet. I met and got to know Mylon LaFever, a band leader who wrote songs for greats like Elvis. My brother asked me one night who the pretty girl was on stage. I was in shock he didn’t know and told him it was Amy Grant. He was surprised because he hung out with her all day and she never mentioned that she was a performer. The opportunities to be surrounded by great Christian people were amazing.

Dad went on a missionary trip to Dominican Republic. I remember wanting to go with him so badly, until he told me the conditions he worked and slept in. At the night he would have to shew the rats away that climbed on him. Going to another country living in horrible conditions to serve the Lord is amazing.

Another part of growing up included Dad owning a general store. I know this was more of a business investment, but I’m sure he thought of us, too. The store created an atmosphere any kid would love. It attracted lots of other kids, so we knew everybody. Dad let the kids hang out on the porch, as long as we “didn’t block the steps”. It was connected to our home with its pinball machines (later arcade games like Asteroids and Space Invaders), racks of chips, Tastee cakes, ice cream and candy, as well as all the items an adult would want (milk, breads, etc.). We were all friends, whether we were 8 years old or in our teenage years. The older kids taught me to ride a skate board, ride a bike with no hands down Main Street, shoot foul shots, and tried to teach me how to climb a tree. That was not happening. Some of those kids have contacted me in the last week. One girl said. --- He truly was an amazing man. I remember the general store. Your Dad. The highlight was riding my bike from Wells Road to get candy, and it was just such a cute, sweet spot for kids. Such a cute little town and a cute place. Another girl said. Your dad gave all us kids a lot of great memories, and was always that other adult who cared enough about us to keep us out of trouble.

Was that why Dad was putting extra quarters in the pinball machines?

Thanks Dad for an amazing atmosphere with great friends and a free arcade next door!

Another part of Dad’s raising us was providing us with all kinds of clubs and activities. Anything we wanted to join or be a part of we were allowed to do. I can’t remember them all, but Rich took guitar lessons, and Rich and Dad road motorcycles together. All of us took Karate lessons. There was little league, violin lessons, and ceramics classes. The amazing part is that we don’t remember him ever saying “no”, that we couldn’t participate in something.

He was a great grandfather to my girls. He gave Rhonda her first car, helped Jill with hers, and would help with things like college books. He went to every ballet and recital Jill was in, only missing ones that he was too ill to attend. Jill remembers a lot of good memories at her grandparents and playing cards with them and their friends. She tried beating Grandpop at cards, but never could. I remember her telling me the object wasn’t to win, that couldn’t be done. The object was to come in second, because Grandpop Ron always won. Rhonda remembers loving spending summer days with her grandfather. And that car!

There are so many amazing things that Dad did and accomplished, that I could be here all day. I haven’t mentioned the great friendships he had or the incredible lessons we learned while owned the store… how to run a business, the hours it takes, the always be good to customers, the hard work, by eleven years old he had taught me to run the place… taking orders in the morning from the CB, running the cash register and just talking to the customers. Oh my word, if I didn’t have that experience, my shy personality would have prohibited me from lots of opportunities. I haven’t mentioned the real estate advice, his incredible work ethic, and never ever do things half way.

If my Dad could give you advice to lead an amazing life it would be the following:

Live a Christian life. Follow Jesus being kind to everyone no matter their race, age, or where they come from.

He would say to be kind and respectful to your spouse every day working as a team to raise your children. After the Lord, your spouse comes first.

And work hard, always doing your best, never ever do things half way.

In conclusion, I want to say my Dad was an example, a rare and unique, amazing example, to all of us. I don’t think he had a single regret in life. For him, talk to your minister or a Christian friend if you don’t know the Lord. Go home and hold your spouse’s hand, say kind words to them, don’t wait, just do it. And work hard, always doing your best. I know Dad did his best. And you, Dad, were simply amazing.

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