Elwood Wilkins

Byron Elwood Wilkins, 93, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 8, 2011 at Life Care Center from causes incident to age. Elwood was born September 20, 1917 in Coltman, Idaho to William Henry Wilkins and Hannah Miranda Butler Wilkins. He attended schools in Coltman and graduated from Ucon High School in 1938. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Central States Mission, where he first me a pretty, brown-eyed young lady who would later become his bride. He married Alyce Hay on January 24, 1940 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They made their home on the farm in Coltman where he was born and together raised a family of four sons and one daughter. Elwood farmed the Coltman homestead for many years, then eventually spent many more years as a real estate appraiser and assessor. As an active member of the LDS church, Elwood served in many callings including stake missionary, gospel doctrine instructor, high priest group leader, and stake finance clerk. He was an avid fisherman, loved attended rodeos, and was an enthusiastic fan of the Bar-J Wranglers. He played and coached church softball teams for many years, including participation with the Coltman team in the All-Church softball tournament in Salt Lake City on two occasions. He enjoyed being called “Hoot,” a nickname his father had given him as a young boy with reference to an old western movie cowboy. Elwood is survived by his sons Curt (LaVern) Wilkins of Idaho Falls; Thayle (Marianne) Wilkins of Orem, UT; and daughter Alyce Joy (Dennis) Huber of Mesa Arizona; 20 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, three brothers, two sons, one granddaughter, and one great grandson. Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon, Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Coltman LDS Chapel (12448 North 5th East) with Bishop Dennis Love officiating. The family will visit with friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday evening at Wood Funeral Home (273 North Ridge Avenue) and 11 to 11:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Grant-Central Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home.