Obituary of Clyde Garland Wilkinson

Clyde Garland Wilkinson, 81, passed away November 13, 2020 in Colorado Springs at his daughter's home surrounded by his family after a battle with dementia and succumbing to a stroke. Clyde, known back home in Missouri as Garland, was born September 21, 1939 in Zalma, Missouri to Archie Clyde and Stella (Stephens) Wilkinson, who both preceded him in death. Clyde is survived by his three daughters, Otsalee Gillenwater, Kimberly (Brad) Lindsay, and Paige (Michael) Hunt; and eight grandchildren, Dana, Debra, Douglas, Heather, Tiffany, Alisa, Katie, and Carl; and fourteen great-grandchildren; and his sister, Anita Borchelt of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is also survived by his wife, Maxine Wilkinson; her children, Paul (Tracy), Nadine (Steve) and Margaret; and their children and grandchildren. Clyde was preceded in death by Dixie Wilkinson, his ex-wife of twenty-five years and mother of his three daughters. He is also preceded in death by his three brothers and eight of his sisters. Clyde was the baby of a large family but was the tallest at 6'4. At 6'4 he was a gentle, caring, soft spoken giant. He grew up in Zalma, Missouri where he played volleyball and basketball in high school and earned a varsity letter in both sports. He also spoke about working on the farm and swimming in the rivers and creeks without a care in the world when he was in his youth. If he could be anywhere it was outside. Going on drives and then stopping for donuts, ice cream or lunch was one of his favorite pastimes. He liked to get his hands dirty putting up fences, moving rock, or building his next project. He enlisted in the Air Force on June 19, 1960. After boot camp in Mississippi, he was stationed in Colorado Springs at Ent Air Force Base. While stationed at Ent AFB he played volleyball for the Air Force and they won a championship. Clyde met and married his wife, Dixie, in 1963 while stationed at Ent AFB. They had their first daughter, Otsalee, born in 1964. From Ent AFB he was transferred to Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska where his middle daughter, Kimberly, was born in 1965. Clyde separated from the Air Force after they left Fairbanks where they packed up the family and drove down the Alcan Highway through Canada, Montana, and Wyoming back to Colorado Springs (over 3,000 miles of driving with a 2 and 3-year-old). He worked for Leigh Whitehead as a surveyor immediately after separating from the Air Force. March 1970 his youngest daughter, Paige, was born in Colorado Springs. Not long after her birth Clyde re-enlisted in the Air Force. The family moved to Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois where he worked as a draftsman and surveyor. He was the NCO of the Year at Scott AFB in 1975 working for the 375th Civil Engineering Squadron. Because of this nomination he was highly recommended to go TDY to Lajes AFB in the Azores. Clyde spoke very highly of the people on Terceira Island and their hospitality, but he never made it to the mainland of Portugal. Even though he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War he was never sent to Vietnam which bothered him immensely. After Scott AFB he was stationed back in Alaska this time at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska working with the 21st Civil Engineering Squadron. From Alaska it was Cannon AFB in Clovis, New Mexico which was his final duty station. Clyde retired in Colorado Springs in 1982. He immediately began working for Civil Service and the Corps of Engineers working in various locations including Fort Carson, Fairbanks, Bethel, and numerous other remote locations in Alaska. He lived with his wife, Maxine, in Alaska, Colorado, Arizona, and South Dakota before moving back to Colorado Springs in 2018. Clyde was eventually living under the care of his daughters when he passed away.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Clyde Wilkinson's memory to American Legion Post 38, 6685 Southmoor Drive, Fountain, Colorado 80817, the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901, or the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 2550 Tenderfoot Hill Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906.A private Graveside Service will be held at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. A Reception will be held 11:30AM-1:30PM, Friday, December 11, 2020, LAV Rentals, 7927 Red Granite Loop, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80939. Events Reception Friday, December 11, 2020 11:30AM - 1:00PM LAV Rentals 7927 Red Granite Loop Colorado Springs, CO 80939 Final Resting Place Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925