Charles Allan Wilkinson

Charles Allan Wilkinson was taken by his Lord and Savior at the age of 96 on July 18, 2026 to be with his wife, Patricia of 65 years who proceeded him in death on September 21, 2018. Charles was born on April 27, 1930 in Bay City, Michigan. He moved with his parents, Marie Elizabeth (Jacques) Wilkinson and Charles Henry Wilkinson to Jackson, Michigan where he grew up with his two sisters, Sandra Jeanne and Donna Marie.

After graduating from Jackson High School in June of 1947, he went on to Jackson Junior College, subsequently transferring to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he graduated in June of 1951. He then studied at the University of Michigan Medical School where he graduated in June of 1955 as a Medical Doctor MD. While in his freshman year, he met his wife to be, Patricia Dean Steele. They were married on June 27, 1953. The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan for his internship at St. Mary's Hospital.

Shortly after, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army as part of the Korean war effort serving as a general medical officer at the U.S. Naval air station in Pensacola, Florida where he trained as an aviation medical officer. He was then assigned as an Army Reserve active-duty flight officer at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Later his family returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Charles opened his own solo general medical practice. Initially, Charles performed medical staff duties at Blodgett, Butterworth and St. Mary's hospitals, subsequently focusing his practice at St. Mary's and as a civilian U.S. medical flight examiner. After ten years he chose to enter a radiology medical specialty residency at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and went on to serve as a radiologist for 38 years at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Family and travel were the passions of Charles, his wife, Patricia and their six children. There were extensive adventures skiing throughout the west and on the many lakes of Michigan. Charles is survived by five of his children, ten granddaughters and five grandsons, as well as two great-grandchildren. They were longtime members of the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, and the Grand Rapids Civic Theater. These were their community passions.

For this reason, and in lieu of flowers, any consideration of gifts should be made to the Grand Rapids Symphony. After a long, meaningful and joyous life on earth, Charles bids this world Adieu “to God.” His passing was peaceful and sudden.

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