Obituary of Joseph Leo Wilkinson

Joseph L. Wilkinson, 79, of Peabody, died Monday afternoon, March 29, 2004 at the Rosewood Nursing Home following a brief illness. Born in Peabody, he was the son of the late Joseph and Eva (Cronin) Wilkinson. He was a lifelong resident of Peabody and graduated second in his class in 1941. He continued his education by earning a bachelor of arts degree from Boston College in 1947. He also attended Yale University from 1953 to 1954, studying Mandarin Chinese and other Far Eastern languages. He earned his master's degree from Boston University in 1959. And from 1962 to 1966, he attended Harvard University and studied art, literature and Asian history. Mr. Wilkinson was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, then as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Mr. Wilkinson taught U.S. history, political science, and French and East Asian civilization at St. John's Prep in Danvers from 1966 to 1967. He taught French, Latin and history at Lynn English High School from 1959 to 1960; and also taught at St. Mary's High School in Lynn at that time. He was a private tutor from 1949 until 1965 in algebra, trigonometry, history, Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Chinese and physics. Finally, before his retirement, he worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for more than 20 years as a clerk. Mr. Wilkinson was a daily worshipper at the Carmelite Chapel in Peabody. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Colette Wilkinson of Beverly, Karl and Gail Wilkinson of Peabody and Paul and Irm Wilkinson of Cambridge; two daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and David Gavin of Berlin and Kristin and Paul Guido of Salem; a brother, Louis Wilkinson of Peabody; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.He was the former husband of Constance (Brault) Wilkinson of Florida. His funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Peabody facility followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody at 11 a.m. to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visitation on Thursday from 4 until 8 PM. Burial in St. Mary’ s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the Discalced Chapel, 15 Mt. Carmel Rd., Danvers, MA 01923.