Robert C."Bob" Wilkes

Robert "Bob" C. Wilkes, age 99, passed away in Casper, February 7th, 2014. He was born in Evanston, Wyoming, 1914, to Obediah and Nell Wilkes. The family later lived in Green River and Cheyenne, and in 1926 moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Following graduation from Omaha Central High School he attended Grinnell College for one year, participating in both football and track. He then transferred to Iowa State University where he became a member and president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, competed with the Iowa State wrestling team and completed a BS degree in General Engineering.

He married Mary E. Jones in 1939 and they celebrated over 70 years of happiness and unqualified love. From 1942 through 1945 he served in the United States Navy as an officer aboard the escort carrier USS Tripoli. Following WWII he worked for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a cost and depreciations engineer and in 1954 earned his certificate as a professional registered engineer. He was active in his church and scouting and was an avid outdoorsman sharing his interest with Mary and their two sons. Family camping and fishing trips were enjoying in Wyoming with Nebraska quail and pheasant hunting also common as family outings. Bob retired in 1974, and Bob and Mary made their home in Sun City, Arizona. In Arizona they shared 30 active years of sun and tennis with the summers spent traveling to various fishing and mountain retreats. In 2005 they moved to Casper to be closer to family and friends.

Bob touched those that knew him as a patient, kind, compassionate, considerate and selfless man. His calm and accepting approach to others and to life provided an unusual comfort not only to himself, but to those around him. As a result Bob and Mary were often claimed as adoptive parents by the friends of their two sons. He was devoted to his wife and family and was the focal point for the wellbeing of those close to him. In short, he was an outstanding model for others as well as a true gentleman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a twin brothers; a grandson, Jason Scott Wilkes; and his wife, Mary. He is survived by his two sons, Robert and Richard of Casper; his granddaughter Erin Wesnitzer and her family of Casper; and a grandson, Robert McKinnon Wilkes and his wife of Pullman, Washington. A family service is planned for the summer of 2014.