Wilton C. Brinkley, 84, passed away Monday, May 27, 2019 at his home in Granville, Ohio after a long illness.
He was born January 10, 1935 in Millboro, Virginia the son of the late William H. and Cathern Brinkley. Wilt served his country in the U.S. Air Force. While stationed at Ethan Allen Air Force Base in Winooski, Vermont, he met the love of his life, Rita, who was a nursing student. They were married in Bellows Falls, Vermont in 1959. After living in Falls Church, Virginia, Marietta, Georgia, and Franklin, Indiana, they moved to Granville in 1966 where Wilt accepted a position as a quality control agent for the Defense Logistics Agency, working for many years out of Newark Air Force Base.
A proud lifetime member of the Blue Grass Hunt Club in Virginia, Wilt enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was a Sertoma member, sports enthusiast, and dedicated (although limited, in the opinion of some partners) golfer. He coached Little League teams, refereed basketball games and umpired softball and baseball games. In addition, he officiated high school football games for 25 years and was a member of the Chain Gang with the Granville High School football team for many years.
Wilt enjoyed his family immensely, especially his grandsons. He was known for his dry wit and jokester tendencies, as his many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, hunting buddies and assorted other victims can testify.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rita; daughter Lisa Shahan and her husband, John of Allen, Maryland; grandson Kyle Shahan and his wife, Annmarie of La Plata, Maryland; grandson Dustin Shahan and his wife Rachel, of Durham, North Carolina; two great granddaughters, Caroline Marie and Lydia Elise; and brothers Grant Brinkley of Verona, Virginia and Larry Brinkley of Post Falls, Idaho.
In addition to his parents, Wilt was preceded in death by his siblings, William “Bud” Brinkley, Hugh “Dutch” Brinkley, Faye Serkedakis, and Elsie “Mike” Puglisi.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Woodland Union Church with Pastor David George officiating. Interment will be in the Woodland Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 1033 Curtis A. Smith Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Union Church, 347 McClung Drive
Millboro, Virginia 24460in Millboro or the American Cancer Society, 2840 Electric Rd, Suite106a, Roanoke, VA 24018.