More detail on this person: Prescott Eugene Wilkie, 74, of Payette, died Saturday, June 17, 2017, in an airplane accident, north of Payette. Funeral Home: Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette . Published in Idaho Press Tribune on June 21, 2017 Prescott Eugene "Gene" Wilkie Prescott Eugene "Gene" Wilkie was a free spirit, young into his 70s. He loved travel, flying, and the machines that enabled him to pursue these. On June 17, 2017, he passed away in an unfortunate airplane accident. He was 74. Gene was born on May 27, 1943, in Council, Idaho, and grew up in New Meadows and Payette. He went into the Army as a chief warrant officer and flew helicopters in two tours of Germany and Vietnam. When he got out, he pursued civilian jobs that allowed him to explore the world further: USAID in Ethiopia, AeroGulf in the UAE, medical evacuation on the Hawaiian islands. His independence showed in his collection of vintage motorcycles and his personal business of restoring and flying beautiful, vintage airplanes. Gene's friends remember him with hilarious tales of adventure, awkward situations, and strong emotions. He was a man who seemed to know the right people to take him places, and he made friends with his charming smile, quick wit, and a continual instinct to help people. In addition to a talent for flying a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes, he was an avid reader and curious about the world, conversational in several languages, as well as a talented artist and musician. By a certain measure his life was cut short, perhaps, but few have lived as fully as he did. Gene is survived by his sons, Christian and Andrew Wilkie; his wife, Emi Wilkie; his sisters, Louise Painter and Karen Fenton; his former wives, Diane Bergens and Shirley Iwane; and his beloved dog, Momo. He is preceded in death by his parents, Eileen and Prescott Wilkie. There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony in his honor on at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario, Oregon. FROM NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 17 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 27 Wall of Honor Level: Air and Space Friend Honored by: Emi Yoshida He was born in New Meadows, Idaho in 1943. Joined U.S. Army in 1960, and started flying helicopter. Then, he flew in Germany from 1964 to 1965, and served in the Viet Nam war from 1966 to 1967. After he was released from Army as an honorable discharge, he flew different kinds of helicopters and fixed wing airplanes for civilian work, such as agriculture, spraying, fire support, survey, external loads, rope pulling on power line, oil support, offshore, hospital"-and so on. He experienced most of operations that helicopter can do. His flying history is not only in the U.S. but in overseas, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Zaire, South Africa and United Arab Emirates. As a both helicopter and fixed wing pilot, he has more than 14,000 hours, and still flies for a freight transport company. As a flight instructor, he has given lots of instructions to flight students who want spin training and tail wheel airplane training. His long experience and good skill got a reputation as people say "Spin training? Go to Gene". Besides flying as a pilot, he is well-known in Hawaii as a skillful airplane mechanic. He got mechanic license, Airframe and Powerplant in 1971, and also got Inspector license. After he moved to Hawaii in 1991, he opened up his own restoration business and has been working on his customer's airplane restorations, own projects, engine rebuilding, annual inspections-"etc. Especially, he is one of a few mechanic in Hawaii who can do "dope' n fabric" work on airplanes. He spends all day long at his shop and work hard. But it is what he likes the most. He is a real aviation enthusiast whose life is full of passion
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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