Jack A. Wilkins
Last updated 23 Sep 2023 in Spear–Johnson Family.
Individual
Born: Bet 17 Mar 1924 and 16 Mar 1925
Died: 16 Mar 1972 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, United States
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (WILKINS, Mr. Jack A.).
obituary-sylva-wilkens-2013: Obituary for Sylva Wilkins (2013); “Remembrances: Wilkins, Sylva Jean,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 22 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Sacramento ⟩ The Sacramento Bee ⟩ 2013 ⟩ April ⟩ Apr 05 2013, Fri ⟩ Main Edition ⟩ Page B5”, column 6; citing “The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California), 5 Apr 2013 (Friday), page B5, column 6”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Jack [Wilkins]).
periodical-california-girl-weds-wilkins-1945: “California Girl Weds J. A. Wilkins,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021) ⟩ “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1945 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 08” page 7; citing “Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 8 Mar 1945 (Thursday), page 7, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Jack A. Wilkins).
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obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes death date (Thursday, March 16, 1972) and age (47). Using his age and the official death date gives a birth date range from 17 Mar 1924 to 16 Mar 1925.
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obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Thursday, Mach 16, 1972) and location (Syracuse, N.Y.).
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Family
Spouse/Partner: Sylva Jean Nicolls (1926 – 2013)
Married: 25 Feb 1945 in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada, United States
obituary-sylva-wilkens-2013: Obituary for Sylva Wilkins (2013); “Remembrances: Wilkins, Sylva Jean,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 22 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Sacramento ⟩ The Sacramento Bee ⟩ 2013 ⟩ April ⟩ Apr 05 2013, Fri ⟩ Main Edition ⟩ Page B5”, column 6; citing “The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California), 5 Apr 2013 (Friday), page B5, column 6”
Comment Detail: Source notes that Jack [Wilkins] is the husband of Sylva Jean Wilkins.
periodical-california-girl-weds-wilkins-1945: “California Girl Weds J. A. Wilkins,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021) ⟩ “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1945 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 08” page 7; citing “Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 8 Mar 1945 (Thursday), page 7, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Feb 25, 1945) and location (Reno, Nev).
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Miscellaneous Facts
Events
School: Southside High School, Bef 1945
Employer: American-LaFrance-Foamite Corp., Bef 24 Feb 1945
Employer: Army Air Forces Technical Service Command, 25 Feb 1945 at , Sacramento County, California, United States
Volunteer: West Hill Volunteer Fire Department (Chief), Bef 16 Mar 1972 at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, United States
Organization: the Masons (Union Lodge)
Organization: the Soaring Society of America
Organization: American Legion (Harry B. Bently Post No. 443)
Military Service: U.S. Army during World War II
periodical-california-girl-weds-wilkins-1945: “California Girl Weds J. A. Wilkins,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021) ⟩ “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1945 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 08” page 7; citing “Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 8 Mar 1945 (Thursday), page 7, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes marriage date (Feb 25, 1945) and employer (Sacramento (Calif.) Air Technical Service Command). The ATSC (technically, the "Army Air Forces Technical Service Command" between 31 August 1944 and 1 July 1945) was based at McClellan Airfield, locaed seven miles northeast of Sacramento. (The field was renamed McClellan Air Force Base in 1948. It was closed in 2001 and the area is now known as McClellan Park.
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes death date (March 16, 1972) and organization (West Hill Volunteer Fire Dept.), and position (past chief).
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes organization (Union Lodge No. 95 F&AM [Masons]).
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes organization (life member of the Soaring society of America).
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes organization (Harry B. Bently Post No. 443 of the American Legion)
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes organization (U.S. Army veteran of WW II).
periodical-california-girl-weds-wilkins-1945: “California Girl Weds J. A. Wilkins,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021) ⟩ “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1945 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 08” page 7; citing “Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 8 Mar 1945 (Thursday), page 7, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes school (Southside High School). No date was provided, but is presumably before his marriage.
periodical-california-girl-weds-wilkins-1945: “California Girl Weds J. A. Wilkins,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021) ⟩ “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1945 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 08” page 7; citing “Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 8 Mar 1945 (Thursday), page 7, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Feb 24, 1945) and *former* employer (American-LaFrance-Foamite Corp.).
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Attributes
Residence: at Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, New York, United States
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes death date (March 16, 1972) and location (Baldwinsvill, N.Y.).
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Research Notes (Conflicts/Spelling/Followup)
FOLLOWUP
Jack's mother was Mrs. Coreva (Rogers) Wilkins of Elmira, his (late) father was Harry A. Wilkins, and his maternal grandmother was Mrs. Clara A. Fritsch of Ithaca. [obituary-jack-wilkins-1972]
Jack and Sylva's descendents include {private} [obituary-jack-wilkins-1972 (names of children and grandchildren alive in 1972 only), research-a-spear-family-history]
Jack's middle name may have been Arthur, and he may have been born in 1924. [research-a-spear-family-history]
Jack may have been drafted in July 1945. (From the 12 Jul 1945 Star-Gazette of Elmira, New York, page 13, col. 7, in the story "Board 504 Calls Men For July 20.")
Jack may have enjoyed piloting gliders. A Jack A. Wilkins of Elmira was co-owner of a two-seat sailplane with Joseph Perrucci of Endicott, New York. On Saturday, 29 Aug 1953, the glider crashed just after releasing the tow rope at about 200-300 feet and pancaking on the ground, killing it's pilot (Charles J. Smith, 40 or 42, an experienced glider pilot and instructor, and a mechanic for a glider manufacturer, Schweizer Aircraft Corp.) and seriously injuring his son (Charles E. Smith, 16). Jack Wilkins had flown the craft earlier in the day for over an hour, reaching about 7100 feet. (From the 30 Aug 1953 Press and Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton, New York, page 3, column 4. Also from the 1 Sep 1953 Rutland Daily Herald of Rutland, Vermont, page 11, col. 1. Charles J. Smith was formerly of Rutland.)
Jack may have applied for and passed the civil service examination for a police patrolman posting in Southport [, New York], a census-designated place, just south of Elmira. (From the 27 Oct 1953 Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, page 14, col. 4.)
obituary-jack-wilkins-1972: Obituary for Jack A. Wilkins (1972); “Death Notices / Wilkins, Mr. Jack A.,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 Mar 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ New York ⟩ Elmira ⟩ Star-Gazette ⟩ 1972 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18 ⟩ main-edition" page 12; citing “Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York), 18 Mar 1972 (Saturday), page 12, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes death date (March 16, 1972) and location (Baldwinsvill, N.Y.).
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Sources
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