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Obituary
Dr. Kenny
Wilkes DR. KENNETH EARL WILKES “KENNY”
68, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of
Columbus, Ohio passed away Wednesday evening, March 13, 2013, at his home.
He was born on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) in Huntington, West Virginia, the son of
Earl M. Wilkes and the former Nevada Dickerson. He was raised in Huntington
and graduated from Vinson High School, where he was Valedictorian and
President of his senior class, Lieutenant Governor of the state Key Club,
and earned varsity letters in track and as manager of the football team. He
attended Duke University on academic scholarships, where he earned a B.S. in
Mechanical Engineering, graduated with distinction, was elected to Phi Beta
Kappa and Tau Beta Pi national honorary societies, participated in student
government, and earned varsity letters as manager of two intercollegiate
sports teams. He earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue
University, and M.S. and Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from The Ohio
State University. He worked as a research engineer-physicist at the U.S.
Naval Ordnance Laboratory in White Oak, Maryland, Battelle Memorial
Institute in Columbus, Ohio, Owens-Corning Fiberglas in Granville, Ohio, and
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He retired
in 2006 from ORNL as a Distinguished R&D Staff Member. He was an
international expert on thermophysics and was a fellow of two international
scientific organizations. After retirement, he was active in the Tennessee
State Guard, attaining the rank of Major, and serving as Adjutant for the
Third Regiment which serves East Tennessee. He was also Docent for the
Farragut Folk Life Museum. He was preceded in death by his father, Earl
Wilkes. Kenny is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Rose; son, Dr.
David Wilkes and daughter-in-law, Dr. Vidya Rajagopalan of Granger, Indiana;
daughter, Suzanne Wilkes-Portante and son-in-law, Gerald Portante of
Littleton, Massachusetts; granddaughters, Elizabeth, Cecilia, and Isabella
Portante of Littleton, Massachusetts, and Aashna Wilkes of Granger, Indiana;
mother, Nevada Kilgore of Huntington, West Virginia; brother, Ernest Wilkes
and sister-in-law, Patricia of Jacksonville, Florida; several nieces and
nephews. He was a member of Concord United Methodist Church. He recently
developed a passion for genealogy and through his research was accepted into
the General Society of Mayflower Descendents and the National Society, Sons
of the American Revolution. He was a wonderful and patient husband, father
and grandfather. He lived a life of grace and left the world a better place
for being a part of it. With his kindness, humor, and ready smile, he
touched so many people. We will miss him greatly but know that the joy he
gave us will live forever in our hearts. The family will receive friends
from 2 to 3:45 p.m. on Sunday followed by a Celebration of Life at 4 p.m. at
Concord United Methodist Church, 11020 Roane Drive with Rev. Brent Hall
officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday
at RegerFuneral Home, 1242 Adams Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia with Rev.
Phillip Warren officiating. Interment will follow in the Woodmere Cemetery.
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