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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life lived with joy and enthusiasm drew to a close |
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with the passing of Fred Lyndel Wilkinson of Tyler on January 17, |
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2025, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Bill and Fauna Wilkinson, Fred Wilkinson |
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was born in Bogata on November 30, 1930, and as a youth, he helped |
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provide for his family by picking cotton at area farms; a graduate |
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of Bogata High School, he attended college in Paris and |
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Clarksville; in 1952, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and he served |
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his country for two years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilkinson underwent training as a laboratory |
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technician, and he spent most of his professional career at the |
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Medical & Surgical Clinic in Tyler; there, he met his future wife, |
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Mitzi Sanders, who worked at the clinic as a nurse; they soon |
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exchanged wedding vows, embarking on a journey together as husband |
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and wife that would span more than six decades; the couple became |
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the devoted parents of two children, Earl and Rachel, and they |
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eventually welcomed two grandchildren and a great-grandchild into |
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their family; Mr. Wilkinson was involved in his children's school |
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activities, and he volunteered as a Cub Scout master and a Little |
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League Baseball coach; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 1993, Mr. Wilkinson and |
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his wife traveled across the world and the United States; a valued |
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congregant of Broadway Church of Christ, he took part in the |
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construction of its building on South Broadway Avenue, and he later |
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served as a church deacon and elder; moreover, he was beloved for |
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his integrity and self-deprecating humor, and he enjoyed gardening |
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and watching the Dallas Cowboys; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family, his faith, and his |
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community, Fred Wilkinson earned the lasting respect and admiration |
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of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Fred Lyndel Wilkinson and extend |
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heartfelt condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Mitzi Wilkinson; to his son, Earl Wilkinson; to his daughter, |
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Rachel Dingler; to his son-in-law, Bobby Dingler; to his |
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granddaughters, Chelsea and Chloe; to his great-grandson, Ryker; |
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and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Fred Wilkinson. |