Donald Wilkerson

Donald C. ?Sonny? Wilkerson, 79, of 4300 Ringgold Church Road died on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Lynchburg General Hospital after being in declining health since January. Sonny was born in Pittsylvania County on May 1, 1932, a son of the late Walter Edward Wilkerson and the late Mary Lou Wiles Wilkerson. He spent most of his life in the Pittsylvania County area where he was a graduate of Dan River High School Class of 1950. He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 where he traveled to Germany. He worked for Norfolk Southern Railway for 47 years until his retirement as a Yard Master. He was also a part time employee of Wrenn-Yeatts Funeral Home. Sonny was a member of Ringgold Baptist Church where he served on the board of Deacons and he was secretary for the Men?s Bible Class. He was also a member of the Railroad Retirees Group. He enjoyed playing cards especially the weekly setback games with his siblings. Sonny will be greatly missed by his family and his many special friends. On July 10, 1955, he married the former Mildred Dean Boyd, who survives of the residence. In addition to his wife, Sonny is survived by one daughter Laura Wilkerson Whitt and her husband Keister of Ringgold, VA; two grandchildren, Abby Dean Whitt and Leah Boyd Whitt; three siblings, Waverly E. Wilkerson and his wife Margaret, Margaret W. Thornton, and Hazel W. Collie and her husband Wallace all of Ringgold, VA; and one sister-in-law, Christine B. Wilkerson of Ringgold, VA. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by three siblings, Everett W. Wilkerson, Juanita W. Collie, and Eloise W. Hawkins. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at the Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel with the Reverend Carl Burger, the Rev. Dr. Steve Ellis and the Reverend Gerald Reeves officiating. Interment will follow the service in Highland Burial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home and at other times at the residence, 4300 Ringgold Church Road. The family suggest that in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to Ringgold Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 10, Ringgold, VA 24586, the Danville Life Saving Crew at 202 Christopher Lane, Danville, VA 24541, or to a charity of your choice. Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel is respectfully serving the Wilkerson family.

Donald Wilkerson

May 1, 1932 - March 15, 2012