Obituary of Floyd M. Wilkerson Jr.

 

Floyd M. Wilkerson, Jr.  slipped peacefully into eternity on Friday, March 17, 2023 with his daughter Sherri by his bedside.

Floyd was born in Polo, Missouri on October 31, 1932, to Floyd M. and Sarah Pauline Wilkerson. He spent his early years on the family farm in Polo, MO.

Floyd became a believer in Christ at the age of 16 during a revival meeting in the church they attended. The redemptive work of Christ was clear in his life from that time forward.  It was only a year later that he met the love of his life, Daralene Cooper and only a couple of years later, the two were married at the ages of 19 and 18.  After graduating from high school, Floyd attended Central Missouri State University, beginning his college career as a music major.  At the onset of the Korean War, like many other young men, Floyd voluntarily enlisted with the Air Force - six months after marrying Daralene. He served and was stationed in Germany as a radio operator instructor.   Upon discharge from the service, Floyd applied for an accounting position with Trans World Airlines in Kansas City. Floyd worked at TWA during the day and attended school in the evenings, finally completing his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Rockhurst University in Kansas City in about four years. All during this time, Floyd and Daralene were active with their local church and Floyd served both in teaching classes and in serving on the board for the church. 

Floyd eventually moved from TWA to work for IBM and as he testified, “I was on my knees many times asking for the ability to meet the requirements of this new job and not bring discredit on myself and my Christian walk.” The move to IBM  was timely as computers were becoming a more integral part of American business and the technology era was in its infancy period.

After a few years, Floyd returned to TWA and experienced a series of promotions culminating in being appointed a Vice President for the company in 1971.  According to Floyd, “During those years I was often “over my head” in terms of decisions to be made and I again relied on Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”  And once again, God was faithful and Floyd was given high ratings by superiors, which he attributed to God, not to himself”  In 1980, Floyd was approached to join Eaton Corporation based in Cleveland, OH and this became a matter of prayer – not just in terms of a career move, but also seeking a strong church where he and Daralene could serve and grow and share their lives with others.  Floyd and Daralene moved to Cleveland, joined the Chapel of Beechwood which eventually became Parkside Church. Floyd served on the board and Daralene assisted in the office – always in ministry together.

Floyd retired early from Eaton Corporation and in 1992, he and Daralene relocated to Colorado Springs to assist OC International Ministries (One Challenge) on their board, but to also serve as an assistant to the president and use the leadership and organizational skills that God had given to him to work on behalf of a missions organization he had come to know and love.  Altogether, Floyd served in a number of roles for OCI over a 48-year period.  The transition from IBM to TWA earlier in his career was built around Floyd being able to travel to board meetings and conferences in California, where OC was initially based. 

Floyd and Daralene were married in 1952 in Kansas City, MO.  Seven years later Mark was born and became the prized son, bright and articulate with many life ambitions.  Sherri Lynn was born in 1962, and became a musician, always encouraged by Floyd and Daralene to practice with much discipline and to use her skills and abilities to honor the Lord. Floyd and Daralene both faced health issues later in life and were married fifty-five and a half years when Daralene passed in 2008.

Floyd (and Daralene) enjoyed being with family and extended family and especially their grandchildren over the holidays and vacationing together in Breckenridge in the summers and skiing together at Ski Cooper during the winter.  Those times together created life long memories for all of the family and endeared everyone to both Summit County, Colorado and the beautiful mountains and hiking trails and lakes and to billiards at Grand Timber Lodge – where Floyd displayed skills he developed as a youth, back in Polo, MO – to everyone’s surprise. Woven into all times together, whether holiday meals together on Daralene’s parents farm in Polo, MO or family meals in Summit County, were prayers, thanking the Lord for His goodness and provision in all our lives. 

The one other practice enjoyed by friends and family alike was the ‘birthday’ call where Floyd would sing ‘Happy Birthday’ with his beautiful tenor voice, reflecting not only his love for others, but attention to detail in not missing any birthdays, especially for grandkids and also for their spouses.

Floyd is survived by his son, Mark Wilkerson of Kansas City; his daughter, Sherri of Parker, CO; He also leaves three grandchildren, Laura Greenwalt, Jeff Schlotzhauer and Katie Johnson, all who live in Colorado. Additionally, Floyd is survived by eight (8) great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Daralene; his parents, Floyd M Wilkerson, Sr. and Pauline Wilkerson, both of Kansas City, and sister, Bettie Caraway, of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Floyd touched many lives and will be remembered as a man of faith and wisdom, a wise counselor, a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

The family would like to thank Lincoln Meadows Senior Living and All the Comforts of Home for the exceptional care they gave Floyd in the last weeks of his life.

If you wish, donations may be made to OCI. ( www.onechallenge.org) A service celebrating Floyd’s life will be held in the Colorado Springs, CO area during April 2023.