CW5 (Ret) Joe Neal Wilkins (March 21, 1942 – February 6, 2023)

Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, friend and Soldier. In his military career, he served the Kentucky Army National Guard as a Traditional National Guard Soldier, Full-Time Technician, Active Guard Reserve Soldier, and as a State employee as the Director of Bluegrass Station and then the Director of Military Facilities. His military and civilian service to the Commonwealth spanned 52 years from June 1960 until July 2012. Joe continued to serve as a volunteer on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Board from 2014 until his passing. Outside of the National Guard, Joe loved to spend time with his family, working on clocks, and watching sports, UK being a favorite!

Joe has left a legacy through his service and his family's service in the National Guard (all three children served), and through his quiet, kind demeanor that he exhibited to everyone he interacted with, whether it was helping repair a clock, selling antiques at the 127 Yard Sale, or just meeting you and striking up a conversation. He and his wife are members of Sand Spring Baptist Church.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents Fred Neal Wilkins and Edna Marie Border Wilkins, parents-in-law Norris Gaither Hite and Frances Louise Turner Hite, sisters Marilyn Jean "Jeannie" Wilkins Speck and Barbara June Wilkins Lamont, and brother-in-law Daniel Ernest Lamont. Joe is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frances Ann Hite Wilkins, 3 children - Brent Alan Wilkins, Kevin Lee Wilkins (Angela), Susan Leigh Wilkins-Rodgers (Scott), 6 grandchildren – Nicholas Alan Wilkins, James Neal Wilkins (Sara), Carma Anne Wilkins, AnAn Marie Louise Wilkins, Ethan Gregory Baker, and Brady Lee Baker, 2 great-grandchildren – Eli Lucas Alexander Wilkins and Ava Lyla-Rose Wilkins, two brothers-in-law, Royce Allen Speck and David Norris Hite, one sister-in-law, Carol Hite Kelley and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Friday, February 10, 2023 at Sand Spring Baptist Church, 1616 Harrodsburg Rd., Lawrenceburg, KY.  Visitation will be 3 – 8 PM Thursday and after 10 AM until the time of service on Friday at Sand Spring Baptist Church.  Burial with full military honors will follow in the Sand Spring Cemetery.

Memorials in memory of Joe N. Wilkins are suggested to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial at https://kyngmemorial.org/joe

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home.  Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.ritchieandpeach.com