Gaylord Wilkinson, 74

Gaylord Wilkinson, 74, Corning, entered eternal rest Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at his home.
Gaylord Charles Wilkinson, the son of Junior and Lois Marie (Haley) Wilkinson, was born on Aug. 6, 1948, in Red Oak. He attended school in Cumberland, Wiota and Carbon before graduating from Corning High School with the class of 1968.
While in school, Gaylord worked as a farm hand for Edward Hoyt. In 1965 Gaylord met Libbie Henderson, and the two dated through high school. The couple married on Oct. 15, 1967, at the Strand Lutheran Church. To this union four children were born, Conrad Eric, Cheryl Lynn, Cedric Dale and Corey James, otherwise known as the 4-C’s.
Gaylord worked for the co-op in Redfield for a short time. In 1975, the family moved to Bedford where they managed the Taylor County Care Facility. In 1978, the family would move back to Corning where Gaylord worked for the Adams County Maintenance Department. He later worked for various construction companies as a heavy equipment operator. All these jobs he worked in addition to working at Country Haven and Choice, Inc.
Gaylord enjoyed horses and attending horse pulls and watching draft horse competitions. He loved sports and traveled to many different sporting events. He especially loved cheering against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Dallas Cowboys and cheering for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs. When not attending a sporting event or watching one on TV, he was sure to be enjoying a dirt track car race. Family was very important to Gaylord; he enjoyed going camping with them and making sure he attended all his children’s and grandchildren’s events.
Left to cherish Gaylord’s memory are his children, Conrad (Tara Benge) Wilkinson of Corning, Cheryl (Kelly) Walton of Corning, Cedric (Kim) Wilkinson of Eldridge and Corey Wilkinson of Corning; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Linda Szabo of Des Moines; uncles, Bob (Dorothy) Wilkinson of Texas and Roland Wilkinson of California; and brother-in-law, William “Bill” (Jayna) Henderson of Tennessee; along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Libbie; parents, Junior and Lois; brother, Virgil Wilkinson; sisters-in-law, Pixie Wilkinson and Ruthellyn Hinton; brother-in-law, Barney Szabo; and mother- and father-in-law, Ruth and L.L Henderson.
Funeral Services were at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Corning. Mr. Larry Johnson officiated. Burial followed at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Corning.
Memorial contributions may be directed to EveryStep Hospice of Mount Ayr. Memories and condolences can be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center of Corning was in charge of arrangements.