Funeral services for George Franklin Wilkinson, 93 year-old former Weatherford, Oklahoma resident, will be held Thursday, January 26, 2017, 10:00 A.M. in The Chapel of Lockstone Funeral Home with Rev. Roy E. Dobbs officiating. Burial will follow at 3:30 P.M. at Fairlawn Cemetery in Cushing, Oklahoma under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, 2:00 P.M. at the First Christian Church, 2nd and Boulevard in Edmond, Oklahoma with Rev. Chris Shorow officiating.

George enlisted in the Army in 1944 and served as a military occupation specialist projection of motion pictures - until his honorary discharge in 1953. He served during World War II and the Korean War He was on the island of Japan after the A bomb was dropped and was responsible for setting up ahead of the USO shows to entertain and boost the spirits of the troops. In 1951 Corporal George Wilkinson received a Philippines Liberation Ribbon. After his discharge from the service he and his family moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma.

George began working for TG & Y Company as the store manager in 1953 followed by Owl Photo and then to become the Weatherford City Manager.

George F. Wilkinson is among that rare group of public officials who served first as an elected official before becoming an appointed official in their community. Little did he or the community realize in the 1963 city commission election that his public service career would extend for more than 40 years, and continued until the recent past.

In 1963, George was elected as Street Commissioner under the three-member City Commission form of government in Weatherford. He served for five years, including holding the office of vice mayor. When the City adopted a strong mayor charter form of government in 1968, George was hired as the City Administrator to work with Mayor Dean Rader. He held that post continuously for 30 years until his retirement in 1998. But, that did not end his service to municipal government. He served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund since 1982 and as the board Chairman since 1996, until many of you probably saw him manning the OMRF booth during the conference.

In honor of his tenure and contributions, the Weatherford City Council has named a meeting room at the Weatherford City Hall as the Wilkinson room. George served on the Board of directors for the Oklahoma Municipal League, the Southwestern Oklahoma Development Authority, the Weatherford chamber of commerce, including three terms as President, and the Weatherford Lions Club. He was a recipient of the Don Rider Award from OML and was inducted into the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and the Cushing High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He also served as a member of the Advisory Board for the O.S.U. Center for Local Government Technology and on the Water and Sewer Certification Board for the State Department of Health. An award in Georges name was established by OKMRF awarded in August 2016, to an agent whose performance of duties is exemplary.

While retired from his position with Weatherford, this effervescent 93 year-old remained quite active in other endeavors, including his passion for entertainment. He performed for many years as an auxiliary percussionist with the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Jazz C ensemble and as a drummer for the Byron Berline Band. He emceed Berline Band performances twice a month at the Music Hall in Guthrie and also the substitute drummer for them. He continued to operate the Rena Kays clothing store in Weatherford that he owned for more than 30 years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the George Wilkinson Oklahoma Bluegrass Music Scholarship Fund % Double Stop Fiddle Shop, 121 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie, OK 73044.