David Wilkins

DAVID WILKINS IDAHO FALLS, ID - David Edward Wilkins, 60, passed away February 22, 2005, at his home from an apparent pulmonary embolism. He had recently faced many medical challenges with great courage and dignity. David was born September 19, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to William Evans Wilkins and Gertrude Elizabeth Roberts Wilkins, the youngest of three sons. He was raised in Moorestown, New Jersey and graduated from Westtown School. He received a mechanical engineering degree from Drexel University and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State. He accepted a position at the Naval Reactors Facility and moved to Idaho Falls after ski bumming in Stow, Vermont and Alta, Utah. David married Sherri, his wife of twenty-three years, on September 19, 1981, in Idaho Falls. He continued to work at the INEEL for over thirty years, where he had many successes on a number of critical projects. He was a volunteer ski patrolman at Grand Targhee until the early 80's. David enjoyed both snow and water skiing, camping and fishing, but his true passion was flying. He started flying in 1965 as a young man and this fascination never left him. He earned his private pilot license in 1989 and became the proud owner of a 1963 Piper 250 Comanche. He was a former member of the Project Management Institute, International Comanche Society, the EEA and AOPA. His practicing faith was as a Quaker. Surviving are: Wife: Sherri Wilkins, Idaho Falls, ID Son: David Jason Wilkins, attending Penn State University Son: Jonathan William Wilkins, Idaho Falls, ID Brother: William Roberts Wilkins, Elsworth, ME He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Donald Justice Wilkins. Funeral Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 10, at Wood Chapel of the Pines. A gathering will follow from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, in the Twin Falls Room. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations would be appreciated for the Westtown School, P.O. Box 1799, Westtown Road, Westtown, PA, 19397, or Development Workshop, Inc., 555 West 25th Street, Idaho Falls, ID, 83402. Arrangements are under the direction of Wood Funeral Home.