He was born to Robert Walter and Bertha Mahala (Cole) Wilkinson, in Alton, Halifax County, Virginia. He was the 4th child in a family of 7, and the 3rd out of 4 brothers.

At age 16, his mother died, so as his relationship with his father was a bit "strained," he decided it was time to leave home, doing so the day of his mother's funeral. He took the opportunity to enlist in the Army, lying about his age. He told us that he'd always been "big for his age." The Army took him to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia, guarding the Trans-Siberian Railway. The 27th Infantry gained the nickname of "The Wolfhounds," because they were very aggressive chasing the Bolsheviks, and Grandpa was an original Wolfhound. After leaving Siberia, he was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where apparently, he was kicked in the head by a horse, leaving him with a lifelong scar on his forehead.

After being discharged from the Army, and being dropped off in San Francisco, he worked his way north to Humboldt County, where he met a beautiful Indian woman, whom he married.
He worked for years for Hammond Lumber Company, became foreman at the Power House, continued on until retirement from Georgia Pacific/Louisiana Pacific.

After retirement, he relocated to Oroville, California, and as Oroville Dam was being built, he found a job as night watchman at the dam site. He also became a model train hobbyist, and delighted many a grandchild (such as myself) "playing trains" in his basement, and tending his large garden.

A favorite memory: I was young then, and thought it the strangest thing, (now that I'm old, it isn't so strange) but whatever we had for dinner the night before, the leftovers were scrambled with eggs for breakfast the next morning. I never would have thought spaghetti and eggs would be a tasty combination, but it wasn't bad! Not all the combos were so successful, though.