Don C. Wilkerson – Benton, IL

Don C. Wilkerson, 93, of Benton passed away on Saturday Evening, February 26, 2022 at the Franklin Hospital in Benton.

Don was born in Benton, IL on August 2, 1928, the son of Lorenzo Dowell & Mary (Lehr) Wilkerson.
He married Pat Glenn in March of 1947, and she preceded him in death on June 3, 1987.

Mr. WIlkerson was a member of the North Benton Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Army Veteran. He enlisted in October of 1946. He went overseas in the spring of 1947 serving as a Paratrooper & Glider Trooper serving 33 months straight with no furlough. Mr. Wilkerson went to welding school at SIU. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for 17 years, he then worked for Old Ben Coal #21 as a repairman for 21 years, retiring as an Examiner.

Mr. Wilkerson is survived by his 4 children:
Donald Ray Wilkerson of Jacksonville, IL
Gary Wilkerson & wife Cheryl Ann of Ocala, FL
Cathy Stewart & husband Steve of Benton, IL
Christy Swigonski of Fenton, MO
11 grandchildren:
Trish (Aaron) Cleghorn
John (Tammy) Hines
Annette (Amos) Anderson
Jeff (Kandi) Wilkerson
Dustin (Amber) Schierbaum
Kyle (Ashley) Alexander
Greg (Lorrie) Stewart
Sean (Chasity) Stewart
Kaitlyn Swigonski
Samantha (Mike) Swigonski
Nicholas Swigonski
17 great-grandchildren
Special Friend: Wilma Kanik of McLeansboro
Mr. Wilkerson was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter-Treva Harding, by a grandson-Robert Hines, by 4 sisters & 1 brother.

Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 2nd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. A Graveside service will follw the Visitation at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery with Rev. Gary West officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by Benton American Legion Post 2671 & VFW Post 280 & the National Guard Honor Team.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com