Otis Wilkerson

A service to honor the life of Mr. Otis Wilkerson will be 2 pm Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches, LA with Reverend John Foster and Rev. Frank Williams officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 8 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include: Bret Wilkerson, Patrick Wilkerson, Austin Clancy, Barney Cooper, Mark Wilkerson, Gary DeBlieux, Rex Britt and Matt Britt Mr. Wilkerson, 94 years of age, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2011 in Natchitoches, LA with his son, Phillip by his side. He was born January 26, 1917 in Natchitoches, LA to the late Mathew Hiram Wilkerson and late Leola (Patch) Wilkerson. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Doris Jean (Moore) Wilkerson; brothers, J. C. Wilkerson, Ora Wilkerson, and Barney Wilkerson; sisters, Elve Cooper, Averl Wilkerson and Velma Jeter. Those left to cherish his memory include his sons, Cary Otis Wilkerson and his wife Pam of Boise, ID and Phillip Gene Wilkerson and his wife Mary Lu of Natchitoches; grandchildren, Bret Wilkerson and his wife Anne of Austin, TX, Kelly Onofrei and her husband Tim of Nampa ID, Lauren Clancey and her husband Austin of Baton Rouge, LA and Patrick Wilkerson of Baton Rouge, LA; great grandchildren, Wyatt Wilkerson, Alice Wilkerson, Kaitlyn Onofrei, Brooke Onofrei and Liam Clancy; brothers, Vester Wilkerson and his wife Dot of Natchitoches, Olan Wilkerson and his wife Myrtle of Natchitoches and Arlie Wilkerson and his wife Pat of Oakdale, LA; sister-in-law, Marie Wilkerson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and close friends. Mr. Wilkerson was a decorated veteran of World War II and a former Prisoner of War. He joined the Army in 1942 and trained as a glider navigator with Company E, 401st Glider Infantry in Fort Bragg, NC. Corporal Wilkerson and his company were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to England and later France. He was promoted to field Sergeant, and his company flew gliders into Holland where they engaged the enemy. During one battle, Otis was captured and taken to a German concentration camp. He was liberated by American troops and returned home after being honorably discharged from the Army. Mr. Wilkerson’s story of surviving a German POW camp has been documented in numerous interviews, presentations and news articles. More than five decades later he finally received all the medals that he had earned during World War II including a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal. Returning to Natchitoches, where he has been a life-long resident, he worked for many years as a driver for Kelly-Weber Wholesale Company and Gulf Oil Company until his retirement in 1981. His occupation led him to many rural communities in central Louisiana, where his friendly nature and warm personality led to countless friendships. Mr. Wilkerson was a devoted husband and father, and despite the demands of his career, he spent as much time as possible with his wife and sons, doing whatever they wanted to do. Mr. Wilkerson was a lifelong and faithful member of the Oak Gove United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities throughout his life; including Sunday school teacher, member of the Board, and choir member. He considered his faith the most important commitment of his life, and was considered a strong Christian witness by all who knew him. Mr. Wilkerson was an active member of the Gordon Peters American Legion Post 10 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.). He participated in the annual Veterans Day programs hosted by Natchitoches Central High School, Lakeview High School, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA). He also worked with students from LSMSA High School for several years, by helping to produce documentaries about his military services and his POW experiences during WWII. In May 2009, he was one of 104 veterans from Louisiana who were selected for the Louisiana HonorAir Program. The WWII Veterans traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the various memorials and monuments that recognized the sacrifices of our nations invaluable service members. In September of 2009, Otis was the recipient of the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal presented by Gov. Bobby Jindal. After his wife died in 2002, Otis found purpose in “taking care of the old folks”, as he called it. He spent time almost every day visiting the sick and elderly in the hospital and nursing homes, as well as those who were homebound. Mr. Wilkerson was committed to serving others and sharing his deep faith in God. He believed that everyday brought opportunity to make new friends, renew old friendships, and enjoy the company of others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or the Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Olan Wilkerson, 151 Yvonne Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457.