William L. Wilkes

William Land Wilkes, 79, Altus, passed away Monday, July 27, 2015 at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton. A Celebration of Life with full U.S. Air Force Honors will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2015 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church with Father Cory Stanley officiating. Inurnment of cremated remains will take place at a later date at Fort Sill National Cemetery. Funeral and cremation services are under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home. William L. Wilkes was born August 2, 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina to Charles Fraizer Wilkes, Sr. and Emmie Dora (Burns) Wilkes. He graduated in the Class of 1953 from Dreher High School, Columbia, South Carolina. He continued his education at Clemson A & M for three years and served in the U.S. Army Reserve for two years. He enlisted in the United States Air Force March 11, 1957 and married the former miss Kathleen L. Talbot on July 13, 1960 in Greenleaf, Kansas. William was a maintenance supervisor at Altus Air Force Base and retired following 22 years of service on March 1, 1979, attaining the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. While in Altus, William attained an Associate of Arts degree at Western Oklahoma State College and also worked at the college for 16 years in the maintenance department, and later as the Director of the Physical Plant. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church; enjoyed fishing, traveling, wood working and spending time with friends and family. William was preceded in death by his father, mother, a son, William L. Wilkes, Jr., four sisters and a brother. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughter, Christina Walton and husband, Dave; three sons, Charles T. Wilkes and wife, Cathy; David W. Wilkes; Richard W. Wilkes and wife, Paula; sister, Doris G. Wingler ; eight grandchildren, Steven Wilkes, Rachel Wilkes, Tavia Wilkes, Kiera Wilkes, D.J. Wilkes, Miranda Wilkes, Kaitlyn Wilkes and Laura Rayne Walton, as well as many friends and neighbors. The Wilkes family will greet friends at 6:00 PM, Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the Kincannon Gathering Room with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent De Paul, c/o Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1500 Falcon Road, Altus, OK 73521.