Wallace Lewis “Wally” Wilkinson
July 12, 2022
WILKINSON, Wallace Lewis “Wally” – Peacefully at the Louise Marshall Hospital, Mount Forest on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in his 85th year. Cherished husband of Geraldine “Gerry” Wilkinson (née Bowman) for 62 years. Beloved father of Pauline LeBlanc and her husband Dave, Debbie Hunter, and the late Robert Wilkinson. Loving grandfather of Brittany Franks and her husband Jeremy, Eric Hunter, Katrina Corley and her husband Steven, and Tyson LeBlanc. Dear great-grandfather of Alexis, Adalyn and Jayce Franks, Aviannah and Kaius Hunter, and Aislyn, Ryker and Edyn Corley. He will be sadly missed by his brother Wayne Wilkinson and his sister-in-law Sandy Wilkinson, many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, extended family and many friends. Wally is predeceased by his parents Lawrence Wilkinson and Thelma & Doug Kidd, brothers Mervyn and Lloyd, sister Marion Kammerer and sister-in-law Dianne Wilkinson.
Wally made many friends during his lifetime while farming and then as an assistant funeral director and through his love of sports. Wally enjoyed the simple things in life, spending time with his family, friends and neighbours, and a good game of cards. Wally’s infectious smile and great sense of humour will live in our hearts forever.
Visitation will be held at the England Funeral Home, 294 Main Street South, Mount Forest, on Sunday, July 17th from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service under the auspices of St. Alban’s Lodge #200 at 6:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the Mount Forest & District Sports Complex, 850 Princess Street, Mount Forest, on Monday, July 18th at 12:00 p.m., with visitation from 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Interment to follow at Woodland Cemetery. Due to the ongoing construction on Hwy. 89 in Mount Forest, please visit www.englandfuneralhome.com for instructions on how to enter the funeral home parking lot for visitation. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Wally are asked to consider Woodland Cemetery or Cancer Patient Services, Mount Forest.
Condolences
Sorry to hear about Wally. Enjoyed working with him. Just a genuine nice guy
— William (Bill) crawford, January 5, 2023Dear Gerry and family...
Sincere sympathy....thinking of you!!!
Maureen Hakenberg
My sincere sympathy to you and your family. He was always such a generous, helpful person. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
— Grace Copeland, July 21, 2022Gerry, Deb, Pauline and families. My heart breaks for you all. I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you for comfort in this time of great sorrow Janis Vessie.
— Janis Vessie, July 19, 2022Gerry, Debbie, Pauline and families,
Our sincere condolences. Wally will always be remembered as such a wonderful person in our Community.
Our thoughts are with all of you.
To the Wilkinson family…sending our deepest condolences on the passing of a lovely man. Though nothing can make this time easier, hopefully your beautiful memories will help to ease some of the pain.
— Lorrie (Adams) Hopf, July 19, 2022My sincere sympathy, Gerry.
Wally was a kind gentleman, and a gentle man, well-loved by so many.
May he rest in peace.
Sorry to hear of Wallys passing. He was a great guy. Having known him for 65 plus years he always remained the same kind, collected and friendly person through all those years. He will be miss by all who new him.
— Ken Beckner, July 19, 2022Our deepest sympathy to Gerrie and family.
— Gary and Anne Matthews, July 18, 2022So sorry to hear the news. Will always remember that wonderful smile and friendly personality that Wally shared. Hold on to all thise memories.
— Wayne and Bev Andrews, July 18, 2022
We always remembered and cherished the fun we had when Wally and Gerry came to Maine with Erwin and Irene to visit Sharon and I. Wally was a kind and gentle person and will greatly missed by all who knew him.Much love to you Gerry. Murray & Sharon
My sympathy to Gerri and all the family. Memories will help ease the absence of a special man.
— S Wilson, July 18, 2022Dear Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and families. Thinking of you at this sad time. We have fond memories of Wally and hope your memories will comfort you now. Carol and Roger.
— Carol and Roger Woods, July 18, 2022Our sincere condolences to all the Wilkinson family. Paul and Mary Lou Bolen
— Paul & Mary Lou Bolen, July 18, 2022My sincere condolences to you, Gerry, and Family, on Wally's passing. What a lovely service, so befitting for Wally. He will be missed by Family and Friends, of which he had many.
Marlyn Howard & Family
Dear Gerry, I'm so sorry to hear about Wallys' passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family 🙏
— Patti Young, July 18, 2022Dear Gerry & family - we are so sorry to read of Wally’s passing. Sending you our deepest sympathy. May you find comfort and strength in knowing that others share in your sorrow. Wally will be missed…..Tim & Linda Ternan
— T & L Ternan, July 18, 2022Dear Gerri, Pauline, Debbie and your families, we’re so sorry for your loss. Wally/your dad was an extra special guy. Praying for your hearts. Sandy and Norm
— Norm and Sandy McLellan, July 18, 2022Dear Gerry, Our family extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family. We will ALL miss Wally and your community cares for you!
So sorry to hear of Wally's passing. He was a very nice, kind and friendly man. His family will miss him very much.
Jim and Kathy Armstrong
Our deepest condolences for the loss of this wonderful man. We will miss the little laughs we shared with him. He will be truly missed.
— Tom & Debbie Shupe, July 18, 2022Very sorry to hear of Wally's passing. My condolences to all of you.
Wally always treated me with kindness, generosity and respect. When I think of Mount Forest, I think of people like Wally. The best!!
Sending all of you peace, love and strength.
Rest in peace Wally..
Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and families, My deepest condolences to you all. We have lost one of God's best. I am so blessed to have so many great memories of Wally over so many years. I will miss his cheery smile, his pranks, his many witty jokes, that twinkle in his eye and sharing that shot of crown royal and so much more. I believe he is now catching up with Robert and oh the stories I bet he is telling. Treasure all your many memories as he will always be with you. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Love always, Marie
— Marie Plume, July 17, 2022Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and families, our sincere sympathies are with you and your families. Wally was a great man. He was also a kind and gentle man. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families at this difficult time. Donald and Gwen
— Donald and Gwen Cormack, July 17, 2022We would like to express our sincere sympathies to you and your whole family Gerry. Wally was a very special individual. He was a kind, gentle man who was liked by everyone. He will be dearly missed by all of you but also by his community and all of us who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very sad time.
Bob and Donna McFarlane
Gerri, Debbie and Pauline,
So sorry for your loss. My sincere sympathies to each of you and your entire family.
Gerry and Family,
My deepest sympathy to you all during this difficult time. Wally was an amazing man-full of kindness. You are in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Diane Johnson
Gerry, Pauline, Dave and Debbie, Our deepest sympathy to you all at this difficult time. Wally was a great man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jim & Karen Bodendistle
— Jim & Karen Bodendistle, July 17, 2022We wish you all the condolences.....Wally was a very pleasant man
Fred and susan Hiller
Our condolences to Gerry, Pauline and Deb. Wally was a good friend and we had a lot of good times playing baseball and hockey and having him as a coach. He will be missed. I was very glad I was able to talk to him last week. Bill & Dianne
— Bill Donald, July 16, 2022Our deepest sympathy to you and your family Gerry at this very difficult time. We will miss Wally's gracious manner and his wonderful sense of humour.
Jim and Chere
My sincere condolences to Gerry and the Wilkinson family
Our deepest condolences to Gerrie, Debbie and all the Wilkinson family & friends. Wally was a great man. May your memories comfort you and keep him close to your hearts and he will be with you forever.
Earl & Marie Randall
Dear Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and families- my deepest sympathy on your profound loss. Wally was a lovely man and a true gentleman. May God surround you with peace and comfort at this time. Sending love and prayers- Debbie.
Dear Gerry, Pauline, Debbie & Families
We were so sorry to hear of Wally's passing. He always had a smile & kind greeting when we'd meet downtown. Thinking of you all with deepest sympathy during this difficult time.
Jay & Darlene Rice
Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and Families
We were sorry to hear about Wally's passing
Our sincere sympathies
Aunt Evelyn
Dear Gerry and family. We are thinking of you at this sorrowful time and send our deepest condolences. Sincerely, Donald & Irene.
— Donald and Irene Neal, July 15, 2022Gerry, Pauline, Debbie and family.
So many beautiful memories of Wally. Gerry and Wally welcomed my family into the community almost 40 years ago and we gained lifelong friends from that moment . My prayers and thoughts are with you through this very difficult time . Love to you all. Trina
Gerry, Pauline and Dave, and Debbie - so sorry to hear of Wally's passing. Please know we are thinking of you. Sorry we cannot be there Sunday and Monday to support you at this difficult time. Mom and I are flying to Alberta and Bernice and her family are heading to New York. Please know we are thinking of you. I always remember the time Wally had me convinced Arnold Palmer was his brother! Cherish the memories.
Brenda & Wilma Wollis, Bernice & Doug Smith and Family
Gerry, Pauline ,Debbie and Families
Our deepest condolences to each of you at this time of Wally’s passing. We hold such wonderful thoughts and memories of different times in meeting and speaking with Wally. He will always be remembered by everyone he met.
Sincerely Shirley Anne and Brian
Gerry and family
Please except our deepest sympathy on the loss of your dear husband, father grandfather and great grandfather. Always remember the good times and he will remain in your hearts forever God Bless you today and the following days to come
Pauline & Dave and Debbie - I was sorry to hear about your dad's passing - please extend my condolences to your mom. May your memories comfort you in the difficult days ahead.
— Ann Clark, July 15, 2022Gerry and family, our sincere condolences to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We were very sorry to hear of Wally’s passing. Thinking of you and keeping everyone in thoughts and prayers.
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HAD MANY GOOD LAUGHS WITH WALLY OVER THE YEARS
FRED AND DIANNE HOEHN
Dear Gerry and Family, my condolences to you on the passing of Wally. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Margaret Dally
Dear Gerry and family,
Our deepest sympathy to you all at this difficult time.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Tom and Margaret Mary
Gerry, Pauline and Debbie
Wally was a Mount Forest favourite and his recipe was astonishingly simple .....he was first to treat all walks with dignity and respect, continuing to do so until it was overwhelmingly proven one was unworthy of such.
Wally was a labourer on a mason crew for my father in the 1950’s before he sold that division to Leo Veldhuise.
There was the odd batch of mortar that got hard before it ever made it into the wall as the boys gathered ‘round the radio during tense times of the broadcasted baseball games.
Now that it’s all said and done it was probably more than worth it.
I remember Lawrence being a fixture in the arena lobby making sure nobody snuck past the gate for the big hockey games.
Lawrence had the sweetest little blue pickup truck. It was the last year before seatbelts where required by law.
Wally kept the truck at his home on Queen and King.
A couple of years back we drew some gravel in to make a turnaround area at the rear door of the farmhouse at Lot 11 concession 6, Egremont.
I stared at that beautiful stone house thinking of all the wonderful memories it must have lying within, both for Wally as a child and as a husband and father to his three children.
When Carolyn and I moved into our first home, that being the Recuperation Station 3 miles NW, we had to build gate posts like the Wilkinsons had at their house.
We are truly sorry to hear Wally has left us.
We will all miss him, however it is imperative to remember he lived such a rewarding life and we could all be so lucky to follow suit.
Sincerely
Carolyn and Randy Bye
Our Condolences on Wally's passing, may he rest in peace.
— Bob & Mary McIntee, July 14, 2022Dear Gerry and Family,
So sorry to hear of Wally's passing. My thoughts and condolences are with you during this time.