John Albert Wilkins

June 19, 1937  –  August 7, 2024

John Wilkins

John (Jock) Albert Wilkins, husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away on August 7^th, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on June 19, 1937, John grew up in Newport News, Virginia, where he developed a love for being the center of attention and playing football.

John’s greatest pride and joy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Joanna, of 62 years, their children, Scott (Lori), Mike (Teresa), Laurie and Christy (Paul); their grandchildren, Dirk, Amanda, Sam, Jake, Jared, and Madi. John also has two surviving sisters, Kay Stockett of Raleigh NC and Jeanne Severen of Columbia, MD.

John graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), where he played football with speed, ruggedness, and fierce old school competitiveness leading to being drafted by the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles in 1960. Despite his imposing size, strength and formidable spirit on the field, injury tackled him and ended his NFL career just as it began with the Minnesota Vikings.

After retiring from football, John and Joanna married and started a family in Southern CA. They enjoyed camping along the CA beaches and mountains and spending time with cherished friends who remain friends to this day.

After living in California for 18 years, the family moved to Seattle in 1978.  John’s work ethic, self-discipline and sincere charismatic and fun-loving personality enabled the family to begin their new life in the Seattle area and flourish.  John worked for Boeing for 22 years and retired in 1999.  Early in retirement, John and Joanna enjoyed traveling, spending time with their children and grandchildren and visiting extended family on the east and west coasts. Later in retirement, they moved to Trilogy, a retirement community in Redmond WA, where they made many friends. John enjoyed talking with neighbors on walks, hugging their dogs, joking about who had the best landscaped yard on the street and showing off his banana trees. John was a true teddy bear, always ready with a warm hug, a teasing remark, and a joyful smile.  John was a gentle giant with a heart of gold.  His integrity, generous spirit, sense of humor and the positive impact he had on everyone he loved and knew will be remembered and cherished by all.

A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held on October 12th in Redmond, WA.