Obituary of George C. Wilkinson

George C. (GC) Wilkinson, 84, passed away Monday, September 8, 2014, at his home in Zionville. Born in Zionville, but with the lack of jobs he worked away from home migrating north until he ended up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was an ironworker and began an apprenticeship with a steel erection company, Don R. Fruchey, Inc. He worked very hard so that when he retired in 1985, after 32 years, he was vice president of field operations. After retiring he returned home to Zionville and bought his home-place. In his retirement he worked part-time for Fletcher Cycle on 421 and managed the Service Department. He was a member of Zionville Baptist Church. He was a member and director of The treeing Walkers Association for over thirty years. If you aren�t familiar with a treeing walker, it is a coon dog. GC competition hunted as well as pleasure. He chose walker dogs because he was tired of getting beat. He loved raccoon hunting as well as any outdoor hunting and fishing. GC was a humble, generous-hearted man of integrity. He could be bluntly honest with everyone. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, and friend. Surviving are his wife, of sixty-two years, Edna (Lou) Wilkinson of Zionville; two children, Kerry Wilkinson of Zionville and Tanya (Denny) Miller of Leo, Indiana; three grandchildren: Rachel (John) Moreland, Seth (Betsey) Miller, and Sara (Phil) Bultemeier,; eight great-grandchildren; sister Jackie Thomas of Concord, and dear friend, J. B. Fletcher of Zionville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Blanche Wilkinson, and brother-in-law, George Thomas. Service is 11:00 a.m. at Zionville Baptist church on Saturday, September 13, 2014. Pastors Dwayne Tester and Ray Greene will be officiating. Receiving of friends will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 12, 2014, at Zionville Baptist Church. Burial will be in Zionville Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or to Zionville Baptist Church, 8174 Old US Highway 421, Zionville, NC 28698. Online condolences may be sent at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Wilkinson family.