Ronnie Joseph Wilkerson

Ronnie Joseph Wilkerson was born in Beaumont, Texas on February 3rd, 1949 to Hoy and Annette Wilkerson and left to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father on April 17th, 2021. Ronnie spent most of his 72 years in Vidor, surrounded by his beloved family and friends. He was known by many names, Ronnie Joe, dad, paw paw, pops, bubba, and uncle. His childhood was happy and filled with family. In 1967, Ronnie graduated from Vidor High School and immediately joined the Air Force Reserves. At 19 years old, Ronnie began his long career at Gulf Oil Refinery in Port Arthur. In 1967, Ronnie met a beautiful, young cheerleader named Kathay from Mobile, Alabama. He married Kathay Rowland on February 14, 1969. They welcomed their first daughter, Deonna, on September 25, 1969 and their second, Sandy, on September 14, 1972. During his 45-year career at Gulf Oil Refinery, Ronnie worked his way up from a general laborer to a maintenance manager. His commitment to his career was only exceeded by his commitment to his growing family.

After retirement in 2013, Ronnie enjoyed spending long summers with his family at the lake and always loved ending the summer with the family weekend at the beach. The joy of his life was spending time with his family on vacations, holidays, and any other chance he got to spend making everyone around him feel special, especially his grandchildren. He was the most generous, humble, and kindhearted patriarch any family could pray for. Nothing was more important than his family.

Ronnie Wilkerson was preceded in death by his parents Hoy and Annette Wilkerson. He is survived by his wife Kathay Wilkerson, his daughter Deonna Olbrich and her husband Todd of Vidor, his daughter Sandy Stevenson, and her husband Jason, 5 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, his 3 sisters Margaret Franklin and her husband Dempsey, Peggy Boone and her husband Eugene, and Sherry Weaver and her husband Rick.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, April 29, at Turning Point Church, 3600 N. Main Street, Vidor, TX. In lieu of flowers, consider donating in Ronnie’s name to www.parkinsons.org or www.alz.org.