Wilfred Wilkes

Wilfred Wilkes, born November 13, 1935 in Newnan, Georgia to the late James and Ella Mae Wilkes, departed this life Saturday, December 19, 2020.

Mr. Wilkes was a father to not only his children, but to many others, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and our very own neighborhood chef to the masses of Dayton, Ohio. His level of love, hospitality, and home cooked meals was a testament of his character to us all, which became a pillar of his legacy. His house was the place to go anytime of the day because you knew he had a meal cooked and ready to be served for anyone who walked through the door. It was not only the food that kept everyone full over the years but the experience you received. It was personal for so many because you knew that he cooked with his heart and soul and so it became more than nourishing to our bodies because he also filled our hearts and souls with more love than any of us could ever ask for. From his warm embrace, to the hard laughs, deep conversations, or him wanting to hear about your story and where you were in life is what made each and every meal meaningful. He truly cared and gave love to anyone he fed; truly selfless. 

Additionally, Mr. Wilkes established his career as a profound firefighter for the Mound Laboratory in Miamisburg, OH. The Mound Laboratory was an atomic energy commission facility for nuclear weapons research during the Cold War which grew out from the Dayton Project during World War II. He dedicated 30 years of hard work and commitment up until his retirement in 1991, which led into a long and happy life as a father figure with beautiful memories to many lives.  

Mr. Wilkes held dearest to his heart with esteemed memories of a lifetime to his best friend and beloved wife, Annie Wilkes, to whom he dated for 2 years and was married to for 64 years as of August 18, 2020. It wasn’t just the length of their marriage that made him so proud, but it was also the love, friendship, commitment, and happiness shared between the two of them. He would always say, “I don’t know what I’d do without Ann.” She was and will always be the light of his world and him the same for Ann. 

He was preceded in death by his brother Willie Jim Wilkes and his sister Ruby Mae Arnold. 

Wilfred Wilkes leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Annie Wilkes; his daughter, Tonjua Dixie (Gregory); his son, Michael Wilkes (fiancé Andrea); his daughter, Rolanda Dixon (Edward); grandchildren, Natina Maxwell (Patrick), Nikita Wilkes-Turrentine (Ray), Monique Wilkes, Taylor Wilkes, Kayla Wilkes, Evan Dixie, and Malcolm Wilkes; great grandchildren, Aniya Baskerville, Nylah Lewis, Ray Turrentine Jr., Noah Lewis, Caleb Shuler, Reyna Turrentine, Nevaeh Maxwell, Rachel Turrentine, Aubrey Grant, Raven Turrentine, Nathaniel Maxwell; Godson, Augustus “Scottie” Davis; and a host of nieces, nephews, close relatives, and family friends.

Walk-through visitation 9-10 am Thursday, December 31, at the House of Wheat Funeral Home, Inc., 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave. Live Streamed memorial service 10 am. (Link: www.facebook.com/Stream-All-Services-102620271622310/) 

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