Obituary of William Lontz Wilkinson

William Lontz "Bill" Wilkinson, Sr. passed away unexpectedly at his Banner Elk, N.C. home on Saturday, December 28, 2019. He is preceded in death by his father, John Louis Wilkinson, and mother, Virginia "Pete" Wilkinson, and sisters Virginia Gay Wilkinson and Barbara Wilkinson Leavitt. Bill is survived by his son, William Lontz Wilkinson, Jr. and grandchildren Davis and Grace Wilkinson, who affectionately called him "Pop", and his sister Catherine "Kitty" Wilkinson. Also left to cherish his memory are nieces Allison, Catherine and Meredith, along with nephews Scott, Christian and Michael, with whom he shared his mastery of water and snow skiing and the art of catching and cleaning a trout. Bill was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C. graduating from Myers Park High School in 1965. After a brief career in the family business, Carolina Transfer and Storage, Bill discovered his love of the North Carolina High Country. And there he moved and lived over forty years, establishing numerous enterprises in food, trout farms, and a gem mine. A celebration of Bill's life will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the Grandview Restaurant on Highway 105 in the Foscoe community for friends and family. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Wilkinson Family.