Wick and JoNell built our house in 2002.  His "we can do that" was our family story for years after that.  He told stories and supported our decisions and guided  us  like a wise father.  He built a good home and after finding a particularly impressive beam for our Great Room said "You can drive a tractor over that."  That beam stood for many years until a fire burned the house down just after his death.  

One of the hardest things was having anyone but Wick rebuild it.  I have a photograph of JoNell on my dresser and Wick is in my heart as we go through the rebuilding process.  His stories of homes he had built, his helpful ideas of our visiting other homes he had built to get ideas, his willingness to build a New Mexico Kiva (something he had never heard of) are all things we loved about him.  He would work with his contractors trying to figure out just how to do something and they came up with a plan--every time.

Over the years, he added a back porch, a garage, a large closet after we decided we wanted Callender Lake to be our permanent home after retirement.  Just before he died, he built a curved ramp from our front porch to the garage and his son Kevin curved an iron railing to go with it.  Again, this was something he had never done, but I found a plan online and showed it to him;   he studied it and said, "we can do that."  God bless him.  To the very end, he was trying new things.

The wonderful stories he told us about his wife both before her illness and after were a tribute to his deep love for her and also what a good man he was.  Always.  

Wick created homes, not houses, and had friendships, not clients.  

May his family know how much he was loved by his community, his friends, and all who knew him.

Rica and Ed Garcia

I am so very sad to just hear of Wick's passing. Wick built an added 2nd floor of my parents home (C.A. and Betty Cockrell) at Callender Lake over 20 years ago. When my husband and I took over the house we decided to add a large covered patio.  We did some research and called Wick for an estimate. Little did we know, he was the one who built the 2nd floor.  He knew my dad well and they were good friends throughout the years. He did build our HUGE covered porch and we made several changes in the process and he always said, we can do that. It is now my entire family's favorite place to hang out. It is just beautiful. I was trying to reach him to do some additional remodeling  on the house when I couldn't reach him and did a search for his name.  I'm heartbroken. I only knew him for the 4 months of the build but loved hearing his stories and  we spent alot of time just talking about life. He was a gentle spirit, kind and so very smart on construction do's and don'ts. He was one of those people that just touch you in a special way. He, like my father who just passed away last month at 88 are the rare souls that can't be replaced. Rest in Peace Wick. 

Wick was a kind, gentle honorable man.  He built our home at Callender Lake so we spent hours with him in his office working on the plan, and no matter how many changes we made, he was unflappable.  We learned, "we can do that, " was the password and very rarely, he would say, "no, that won't work."  We knew if he said no, it was because it couldn't be done--not that it would be trouble for him.  He built a Kiva for us--one of his many firsts and almost 20 years after building our home, built a curved raised walkway from our porch to our garage so we wouldn't have to climb steps.  It took him a minute or two to agree to a curved ramp, but he and his crew figured it out (another Wick first) because it was really important to us.

We loved his stories of playing football as a teenager in East Texas and falling on his back into a pit and lying there for a while  until he picked himself up when he was 75.  His Grandson said, "You're a tough old coot," and he laughed as he remembered the story.  There were stories of Dixye young and dynamic, and in the later years as he took care of her.  And, of course his kids.  We feel as if we knew each of them.  

His death will be a great loss to all who knew him because Wick was a force of nature and the quintessential good man.  There just isn't another like him and we treasure living in a house of which he said proudly, "you could drive a tractor over that beam." 

We are so sad at this loss but  grateful for having known him.

In deepest sympathy and respect,

Rica and Ed Garcia

When I first met him he was sweet and kind . When I would come back.to.see my Mom and go to church on Sunday he would be there talking . I would say hi how are you ? He would tell me he is fine . Then he would ask how long I would be visiting? I said a month .He would say good . He was always cheerful and had a smile on his face .He will be missed deeply. He is a very sweet man I am glad that I was able to know him .



Wick was always nice to me. Every time I ran into Wick at a restaurant, lumberyard or hardware store he always said hello (with a smile) and called me by name. I will always remember him for that and his gentle and kind soul. 

Wick was a good neighbor, a good mentor, and a good friend. If you think of Little Hope Community, you think of Bill G. and Wick

I did a lot of work for this gentleman.  Wick was a great man to be around  listen to and learn from. My friend all the houses I air conditioned for you will be in my mind and so will your wonderful smile. God speed and God  bless!

We have lost another one from that great generation- Wick was a very dear friend to my parents Jack & Bert Pollock - built them 3 different houses - I met Wick first at Little Hope Baptist church - he was such a sweet man with a quick wit - a true servant of the Lord .. built my home as well - those were the days when if you had a W/T house you had a well built castle !!
He was always there to help you and was just a phone call away - Rest In Peace Wick, enjoy you time now with your lovely bride and our Heavenly Father 

My family knew him as Wick, a man of smiles and wit. A man who loved his wife, Dixye, and his children, grandchildren, greats and great, greats deeply, as well as the little "strangers", (foster babies brought home in the middle of the night), he might find sleeping beside him. His home was always full of love and nurturing. His friends were many and we loved being counted among them. Wick has left a wide space , one that can't be filled, in our hearts and the hearts of many others. He will be missed, of course. As my dad, Al Cates, would say, "My, what a place no one could fill; Wick's place in our hearts, our community our friendship, and in our church." He is reaping God's favors he deserved. May God bless each of his family and give them comfort and peace. 


Wik was a true friend to me and my family. I enjoyed many lunches with him.  He was a staple at our restaurant and will be truly missed by our family and staff.  I will always remember the day he picked me up to drive me around and show me his first house he built and the current one he was working on that was a great trip for me that lasted 8 hours. That is only one memory that I will have of my friend. Truly a GREAT man. Rest In Peace our friend. 

Wick was a wonderful person.  You could always depend on him.  His word was his bond.  We will miss him terribly.

Thankful to have known Wick all my life. Many great and fun memories. One example was when Wick made cornbread and iced it with chocolate icing. There was a surprise after the first bite. He was so much fun.   Blessed to have attended church and worship with him and his family. He was the finest  in building homes for people. A great neighbor. 

OBITUARY

J. D. "Wick" Wilkerson

March 1, 1935 – February 1, 2021

Eubank Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services