Ronald "Ron" Wilkinson

Ronald Joe Wilkinson peacefully passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 in Wichita, KS. Ron was born at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, KS on April 9, 1934 to Virgil and Edythe (Wiske) Wilkinson, the youngest of 3 sons. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Sidney (Beattie); son, Stuart; parents, both brothers, Milton and Roger, and sister-in-law, Gwendolyn (Galloup). He is survived by his daughter Shelley (aka Tootie) and numerous nieces, nephews, a granddog and several grandcats.

Growing up in the old Riverside neighborhood of Wichita, Ron (RJ, Ronnie Joe, RJDS, Waxy) was involved in Boy Scouts, obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Riverside Elementary, Marshall Middle and North High Schools. After graduating from North High in 1952, he attended Wichita University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1956. While still attending North High, Ron got a job at KANS radio as a board operator where he continued working while at Wichita University. He went on to KWBB radio briefly before ending up at KFH where he became an on-air personality. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Gamma social fraternity at Wichita University. He then moved to Washington, DC to attend George Washington University Law School. While there, he worked for the U.S. Congress. In order to be closer to his mother after she had a stroke, he moved to Topeka where he attended and graduated from

Washburn Law School. He was admitted to the Bar in 1958. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity. He then joined the Air Force Reserve, where he achieved the rank of Captain. It was in Topeka in 1958 that Ron met and married Sidney Beattie.

After being admitted to the Bar, he joined his father at the Wilkinson & Wilkinson Law Office. He was appointed pro tem judge in the Court of Common Pleas before running for and being elected Police Court judge of Wichita. He taught for the Legal Assistant Program at Wichita State University for several years. He became a Life Member of the Wichita Bar Association in 2004. He achieved the Martindale-Hubbell peer rating of AV Preeminent, the highest available. He practiced law in Wichita for well over 50 years.

Among Ron’s numerous professional, political and volunteer positions and appointments: President, Washburn University Law School Bar Association.; President, Wichita-Sedgwick County Association for Mental Health; Director, Kansas Association for Mental Health; President, Kansas Young Republicans; Chairman, Sedgwick County Republican Central Committee; Selected to attend the Defense Strategy Seminar at the National War College in 1960. Ron became an avid gardener, growing lots of different vegetables every year and planting numerous mums, among all sorts of other plants. He especially enjoyed starting vegetable plants from seeds and sharing the baby plants with neighbors, friends and relatives. He had a great love of books and history, especially the Civil War and often joked(?) that he was Abraham Lincoln in a previous life. He always had a good(?) joke to tell and could talk to and make friends with anyone.

Ron and Sidney adopted Stuart in 1963 and Shelley in 1965. He took excellent care of Sidney after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis until (and after) she had to move to a home plus care facility a few months before her death in 2010. He was always concerned with other people’s happiness and well-being and was happy to answer legal questions and offer advice to anyone who asked. He was a great friend, uncle and father and will be greatly missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Felines KS, 8918 W 21st N, Suite 200

#160, Wichita, KS 67205-1880.

A private family burial will take place at Resthaven's Cemetery in the Garden of Prayer. With a Celebration of Life Service being held at a later date.