Obituary for Francis P. Wilkins Sr.
Francis P. Wilkins Sr., of Chelmsford, passed away at the age of 89, on Saturday, January 30, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary R. (Ares) Wilkins with whom he was married to for 36 years until her passing in 1993. Francis was also the loving husband to the late Gloria (Weber) (Dubey) Wilkins sharing 21 years of marriage before her passing in 2015.
Francis (Frank) was born in 1931 in Lowell, MA and was the son of the late Andrew (Vilkisius) Wilkins and Antonina (Viersieckas) Wilkins. After graduating High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Following his discharge, he was employed at Lowell Star Dairy as a milkman then became a Supervisor. After many years there, he moved on to Sago Distributors of Chelmsford, and later to Abram Bros. of Framingham, MA, until his retirement in 1991.
Frank shared his love of music by singing at family gatherings, in many churches and entertaining in Nursing Homes in the Greater Lowell area. He was a life-long member of the Lithuanian Club of Lowell and enjoyed being employed for a short time by the Town of Billerica as a crossing guard. Many can remember him as the “Butterfly Man” because of the origami butterflies he would create and hand out to brighten someone’s day.
Anyone who met Frank, called him a true gentleman. He was kind, good-hearted and a devoted and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He leaves behind his two sons’, Francis Wilkins Jr. and his wife Jeannine, Charles Wilkins and his wife Patricia, and his daughter, Marianne (formerly known as Dion) Wilkins. Francis was the grandfather “Ducas” to seven, David Wilkins and his wife Kate, Jesse Wilkins and his wife Dimetra, Seth and Andrew Wilkins, Brian Wilkins and his wife Lori, Melissa (Dion) Dempsey and her husband Colin and Eric Dion and his fiancé Judith. He was a great grandfather to eight, Vincent, Luke and Juliette, Francis and Samuel, Chase, Aiden and Alice.
Francis was predeceased by his two brothers, Joseph and Andrew Wilkins and five sisters, Anna Saulen, Antoinette Tutkus, Veronica Shanley, Helen McLaughlin and Rita Petcauskas.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Francis’ name to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) or the American Cancer Society (cancer.org).
Francis (Frank) was born in 1931 in Lowell, MA and was the son of the late Andrew (Vilkisius) Wilkins and Antonina (Viersieckas) Wilkins. After graduating High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Following his discharge, he was employed at Lowell Star Dairy as a milkman then became a Supervisor. After many years there, he moved on to Sago Distributors of Chelmsford, and later to Abram Bros. of Framingham, MA, until his retirement in 1991.
Frank shared his love of music by singing at family gatherings, in many churches and entertaining in Nursing Homes in the Greater Lowell area. He was a life-long member of the Lithuanian Club of Lowell and enjoyed being employed for a short time by the Town of Billerica as a crossing guard. Many can remember him as the “Butterfly Man” because of the origami butterflies he would create and hand out to brighten someone’s day.
Anyone who met Frank, called him a true gentleman. He was kind, good-hearted and a devoted and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He leaves behind his two sons’, Francis Wilkins Jr. and his wife Jeannine, Charles Wilkins and his wife Patricia, and his daughter, Marianne (formerly known as Dion) Wilkins. Francis was the grandfather “Ducas” to seven, David Wilkins and his wife Kate, Jesse Wilkins and his wife Dimetra, Seth and Andrew Wilkins, Brian Wilkins and his wife Lori, Melissa (Dion) Dempsey and her husband Colin and Eric Dion and his fiancé Judith. He was a great grandfather to eight, Vincent, Luke and Juliette, Francis and Samuel, Chase, Aiden and Alice.
Francis was predeceased by his two brothers, Joseph and Andrew Wilkins and five sisters, Anna Saulen, Antoinette Tutkus, Veronica Shanley, Helen McLaughlin and Rita Petcauskas.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Francis’ name to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) or the American Cancer Society (cancer.org).