Mr. Wilkins was born April 5, 1918, in Mound Valley. He was a colonel serving in the Army Air Corp and the U.S. Air Force, retiring after 25 years of service. He was a plant manager and flew helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft in Stanford, Conn. He also worked in procurement for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C. After retirement, he was a rancher in Ellsworth County for 15 years. He was a graduate of the Flying Class of 41G and served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Survivors include his wife, Gayle M. Duffield Wilkins of Salina; two brothers-in-law, Robert J. Duffield of Salina and George Duffield of Miami, Fla.; three nephews, Sean Duffield of Deerfield, Fla., and Michael Duffield and Brian Duffield, both of Baltimore; and four nieces, Judy Ellis and Norma Jean Hendricks, both of Parsons, Patsy Shepard of Enid, Okla., and Jennifer Ewing of Salina.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401. Burial will be in Falun Cemetery, Falun, with military honors performed by McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Military School or Falun Lutheran Church.