More detail on this person: WILKS, Clarence
Donald "Don" U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) born on
August 7, 1931, was welcomed into the arms of
Jesus on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 6:25 am.
Don was born and raised in Portland, OR to parents
Clarence and Katie Wilks. Don was a man of
utmost integrity, ever an "officer and a
gentleman". He attended college at Oregon State
University where he joined the ROTC program. The
initial commitment grew into a 30-year career in
the U.S. Army, with challenges such as a
three-year exchange duty with the U.S. Navy where
he became jet qualified, commanding a helicopter
battalion in Viet Nam, earning his MBA at George
Washington University, serving with NATO and then
as the military liaison to the civilian government
in Frankfurt, Germany, as well as being a Staff
Officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the
Pentagon. After an impressive career, earning
medals including the Legion of Merit and the
Distinguished Flying Cross, Don retired in Florida
with his wife, Winnie, where he continued to
leverage his leadership skills as treasurer of his
homeowner's association, serving on the board of
directors for Cypress Pointe Resort in Orlando,
and as an Elder and Clerk of Session with the
First Presbyterian Church of Brandon and the
Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center. Don leaves
behind his devoted wife Winnie; children, Susie
Wilks, Debbie Watson, Jeff Crompton, and Sherry
Callahan; his grandchildren, Tyler Scherner,
Tanner, Parker, and Abigail Callahan, SueAnn
Heck, Mikey, Johnny, and Kristina Crompton; nine
great-grandchildren; and a brother, Larry Wilks.
Brother Walt preceded Don in death. A celebration
of life will be held at the First Presbyterian
Church of Brandon, 121 Carver Avenue on
Wednesday, December 14 at 2 pm. Interment will
be at Arlington National Cemetery in the spring of
2017. In lieu of flowers, you may honor him with
donations to the Alzheimer's Association , or to
Lifepath Hospice in Florida.
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on Dec. 9, 2016
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 12/14/2016
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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