Burlington, Vt. —
He was born Nov. 8, 1927, in West Lebanon, N.H., the son of Walter and Lula (Woodard) Wilkinson. On Oct. 16, 1948, he married Margaret Gould, and they would go on to raise their four children and numerous foster children in Lebanon. In 1980, Walt and Margaret moved to Burlington, to continue what would be their 70 years of adventure together.
Throughout his early life, Walter attended school in West Lebanon, worked summers on local and family farms, loved to ride his motorcycle, and developed his undeniable work ethic. After attending UNH, where he supported himself working in the school dining hall (with 800 students upstairs, and 350 soldiers downstairs) he was a farmer, logger, milkman, truck driver, construction worker, steel worker, welder, and drove jalopies at local dirt tracks. Using his self-taught blue-collar skills, he built his family home on Mascoma Street, which is currently owned by one of his granddaughters.
Walter was a man with simple needs, a large caring heart, a sly smile, and an active sweet tooth. He was an avid storyteller, loved to ‘sing’ hymns, go camping with family and friends, was an enthusiastic square dancer and, despite two left feet, was an eager round dance partner with Margaret. He will also be remembered for teaching his children and older grandchildren to drive a variety of vehicles (but, only American made), while they were still well below the legal driving age.
As his life slowed down, he attended the VNA Adult Daycare in Mallets Bay for 18 years, where he was an active participant in many of their activities. In addition, he rarely missed a Red Sox game on TV, and enjoyed attending UVM basketball games.
Walter was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Lois Allen, and is survived by his wife, Margare; a sister, Doris Smith and her husband Jim; his brother, Paul Wilkinson and his wife Alice; brother-in-law Phil Allen; four children, Pegeen Zubalsky and her husband Harry of Montvale, N.J., Pauline Smith and her husband Stephen of Leesburg, Fla., Guy Wilkinson and his wife Pamela, of West Hartford, Vt., and Dana Wilkinson and his wife Lisa of Lincoln, Vt; seven grandchildren, Aaron Smith and his wife Angela, Tara Trapasso and her husband Sam, Brooke Morse and her husband Mark, Andrea McMahan and her husband Michael, Jodi Spaulding and her husband Justin, Joshua Wilkinson and his friend Allison Tarbox, and Jordan Zubalsky and his friend Joanne Gonzalez; sixteen great-grandchildren, Ryder, Mackenzie, Griffin, Olivia, Sophia, Emerson, Rhys, Chase, Harper, Ford, Sammy, Cole, Jonathan, Callaghan, Caroline, and Sarah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may call Wednesday, May 16 at Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to share their many ‘Wilkie’ memories and stories. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, May 17 at Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon, at 10 a,m. Interment will follow the mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VNA, to help continue the support they provide through their Adult Daycare Program. Contributions should be sent in Walter’s name to the VNA of Chittenden & Grand Isle Counties, Adult Daycare Program, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446. An online obituary is available to leave Walter’s family a message of condolence by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.