Raymond Eugene Wilkins

Raymond Eugene Wilkins, 90, died Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Raymond was born May 10, 1926, in Ralston, Oklahoma. He was the son of Orville Amos and Laura (Kirk) Wilkins. As a young man, Ray grew up and attended school in Ralston and Terlton. Soon after graduation, Ray was inducted into the United States Army. Ray was stationed in Germany for nearly 10 years before he was honorably discharged and returned to the United States. In November of 1953, Ray was united in marriage to Alice Sue Stroud in Cleveland, Oklahoma. The two established their home, Sand Springs. They later moved to Gulfport, Mississippi before moving to Cleveland, Oklahoma in the 1970’s. Ray worked for National Tank during that time. Ray then gained employment with CF Braun as an inspector in the mid 1970’s. Ray was united in marriage to Elvira Louisa and the two traveled extensively with his job throughout the World. In 2000, they moved to Kansas where they remained until 2016. At that time they resided in Shawnee to be closer to Ray’s daughter.

Ray enjoyed collecting, gardening, going to flea markets and being with family. He had many knives as well as marbles in his collections. Ray always wanted to purchase a farm and enjoyed working on them as well.

Survivors are his two daughters Sherlynn Goins and her husband Dale of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Teresa Shivers and her husband David of Prague; brother Kenneth Wilkins of Copan, Oklahoma, sister Pauline Allender of Harper, Kansas, Ellen Elston of Marion, Kansas, Faye Hodges of Cleveland, Oklahoma; grandchildren; Trisha Shipman-Lameier and husband Mike of Hawaii, Shane Shipman and wife Tracy of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Amber Shipman-Rogalsky and husband Josh of Luther, Oklahoma, Abbra Scoggin and husband Rett of South Dakota, Andy Shipman and wife Angela of Nelagoney, Oklahoma, Molly Milmo and husband Russell of Olney, Texas, Michael Graf and his wife Diane of Germany, Christian Graf and wife Constance of Germany, seven great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by; four brothers Winfred Wilkins, Theodore Wilkins, Charlie Wilkins, Roy Wilkins; three sisters Ruth Butler, Helen Allen, Beulah Allen and a son Carl Ray Graf.


Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Rev. David Head officiating. Burial will follow in the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a emory with the family online at www.chapman-black.com