Submitted by: Dan Rich

Darwin E. Wilkeson Sr.

May 6, 1910 - March 24, 2001

South Bend Tribune 4/1/2001

Darwin E. Wilkeson, Sr., 90, of 26098 Camphorwood Street, Hemet, Calif., formerly of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, in the Hemet Valley Medical Center, Hemet, Calif. Mr. Wilkeson was born on May 6, 1910, in South Bend, to Charles and Susan (Arnold) Wilkeson. He had resided in California since 1978, coming from South Bend.

On Sept. 19, 1935, in South Bend, he married the former Genevieve Sobecki, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter and four sons, Suzanne (Del) McMillin of Michigan City, Ind., Darwin "Bubby" (Judy) Wilkeson of Santa Clara, Calif., Philip (Nancy) Wilkeson of Corona, Calif., Michael (Nancy) Wilkeson of Green Valley, Ariz., and Gene A. (Ellen) Wilkeson of South Bend; and by 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, who he loved and cherished, and spoke often of his wonderful family.

Mr. Wilkeson was an avid golfer, loved TV sports, working crossword puzzles, and loved the song "Back Home in Indiana" which will be sung at the funeral. Darwin always told his family and friends: "You can take the boy out of Indiana, but you can never take Indiana out of the boy."Mr. Wilkeson retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 36 years of service as a rural mail carrier. He also worked during his postal years with the South Bend Tribune after he retired from the Post Office as a delivery driver for the Tribune.

Visitation hours will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3rd, in the Hanley & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home, located at West Ireland Road/Indiana 23, South Bend. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4th, in St. Jude Catholic Church, with Rev. James Stoyle officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, South Bend. The family requests that all memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Catholic Church, 19704 Johnson Road, South Bend, IN 46614. The HANLEY & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home handled arrangements and services and extend heartfelt sympathy to the Wilkeson family.