Loraine W. Wilkins, 86

MILFORD - Loraine W. Wilkins, of Milford, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at home. He was 86.

Mr. Wilkins was born March 26, 1922, in Georgetown, son of the late William D. and Lydia (Baker) Wilkins.

He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps, earning the rank of sergeant during his service in World War II.

Mr. Wilkins was a self-employed businessman operating Milford Wholesale Grocery from 1946 until he retired from the business in 1979.

He played basketball in high school and again after the war with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars team and spent several years coaching with the Milford Little League.

He loved boating and collecting model trains, enjoyed the horse races and was an avid fan of all the Philadelphia sports teams.

Mr. Wilkins was a member of the Blue Hen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6483 in Milford and a 71-year member of the Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Louise K. Wilkins, in 1992; and his second wife, Jessie Lawson Wilkins, in 2007.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Mike Davis of Harrington; a sister, Jean Murphy of Milford; a grandson, Mickey Davis and his wife Laura of Middletown; a great-granddaughter, Caitlyn Davis; an aunt, Ruth Wilkins of Georgetown; and an uncle, Frank Wilkins of Scituate, Mass.

Services will be noon Saturday at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., Milford, where friends may call one hour prior.

Burial with military honors will be in the Milford Community Cemetery, North Walnut Street, Milford.

Instead of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions to the Avenue United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 20 N. Church St., Milford, DE 19963.