Victor “Ron” Wilkerson, 68, a longtime Parsons science teacher, died at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010, at Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita. He had been critically ill the past three days.

He was born Aug. 10, 1941, in Parsons to Victor W. and Ladine M. (Sharp) Wilkerson. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1959 and earned both a bachelor of science and a master of science degree from Pittsburg State University.

He began his teaching career in Chetopa and then taught at the high school in Coffeyville before returning to Parsons in 1971 to teach at Parsons Middle School. After retiring from full-time teaching, he continued teaching part time for several years.

Ron had worked at several other places over many years, including Princess Homes, UPS, the Baugher Dairy Farm and the Wagner Dairy Farm. He had a longtime farming partnership with the late Jerry Wilson. His other interests and activities included beekeeping, woodworking, camping, operating a gun shop and mentoring young students.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served as a church trustee.

On Dec. 22, 1962, he married Janice Shane at Trinity Lutheran Church, then located at 24th and Broadway. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three daughters, Julie Holt and her husband, Cliff, of Shawnee, Becky Cole and her husband, Kevin, of Parsons and Amy Woodward and her husband, Landon, of Neodesha; six granddaughters, Mary Welch, Hannah Holt, Holly Holt, Carly Cole, Madison Cole and Emma Woodward; a grandson, Brock Woodward; a brother, Neal Wilkerson and his wife, Pat, of Parsons; and two sisters, Nancy Garber and her husband, Errol, of Grove, Okla., and Chloe Ann Schultz and her husband, Aubury, of Parsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Eric James Wilkerson; and a brother, Bobby Wilkerson.

The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to either the Parsons Education Foundation for a scholarship in his name or to the Trinity Lutheran Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.