Charles H. Wilkinson (Chuck) passed away on Oct. 17, 2016 at his home in Ormond By Sea, FL with his wife of 61 years holding his hand. He was 88. He was the son of Christopher Hilton Wilkinson and Mildred Bass Wilkinson of Amite County, MS where he grew up. Both are deceased. In 1944 Chuck was employed as a locomotive fireman by the Illinois Central Railroad. He was based in McComb, MS. He took leave from the ICRR to join the U.S. Army in 1944. Following Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, Pvt. Wilkinson completed paratrooper training at Fort Benning, GA. He was assigned to the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion and the 11th Airborne Division. He became a Master Paratrooper and was considered as expert in demolitions. He served in the Korean War making combat jumps behind enemy lines. Staff Sgt. Wilkinson requested and was granted transfer into the newly organized Special Forces Unit known as the Green Beret at Fort Bragg, NC in 1952. Chuck married Joyce Alene Burge (an R.N.), daughter of Cober Low Burge and Dorothy Lee Carter Burge of Clinton, NC in 1955. Receiving an honorable discharge from the Army in 1956, Chuck, Joyce and six month old son, Chris, moved to his home state and settled in Jackson, MS. He returned to his former job as a locomotive fireman for the ICRR. Taking advantage of his G.I. Bill Benefits, Chuck also attended Hinds Community College earning a diploma. Their second son, Kent, arrived in 1957. Chuck was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1961. He transferred to Amtrak in 1987 and was based in New Orleans, LA. Chuck and Joyce moved to the New Orleans area where they lived aboard their houseboat, Joy Toi, which was docked on Lake Pontchartrain at Madisonville, LA. He retired in 1990. His last run for Amtrak was from Houston, TX to New Orleans, LA. In 1991, Chuck and Joyce moved to Florida where they continued to live aboard the Joy Toi docked on the St. Johns River near Deland, FL. Chuck's long time dream came true in 1994 when he and Joyce moved into an ocean front condominium in Ormond By The Sea, FL. They continued to divide their time between both homes until 2011. Chuck was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Freemasons, Shriners, and Scottish Rite (Wahabi Temple, Jackson, MS). In addition to his love of the water and boating, he enjoyed TV News Channels and Video History and documentaries. His special interest was studying Germany, Hitler, and the Holocaust. He was very proud of his military service, his railroad career, his life achievements, and his ability to provide well for his family. He felt very blessed. In addition to Joyce, Chuck is survived by two sons, Christopher "Chris" Hilton (Gail), Clinton, MS and Richard Kent, Jackson, MS; and one grandson, Triston Charles, Clinton, MS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Magnolia Speech School, 733 Flag Chapel Road, Jackson, MS. Interment will be in Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, FL on Thursday October, 27, 2016 at 11:00 am. A Celebration of Life reception will be held in the Tiffany Condominium Gathering Room at 1295 Ocean Shore Blvd. Ormond Beach, FL at 5 pm on Oct. 27, 2016.

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