Gordon Mcclung Wilkinson

Mr. Gordon McClung Wilkinson, age 88 of Tyler, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. He was born in Winona, Texas, on July 15, 1935, to the late Bert Bozeman Wilkinson and Kathleen McClung Wilkinson.

Gordon grew up in Winona and graduated from Winona High School as valedictorian of his class. After graduation, he first attended Tyler Junior College and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate of Law from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Additionally, he graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU.

After graduating from law school, Gordon made his home in Tyler, Texas, and began his career managing the Trust Department at a local bank. In 1965, Gordon moved to Winnsboro when he was hired as the new President of First National Bank of Winnsboro at the young age of 29. His banking career spanned more than four decades and he proudly served as former President and Chairman of the Board of First National Bank of Winnsboro and President of its holding company, Etex Banco, Inc., of which he was a majority shareholder.

Mr. Wilkinson’s life was spent in service to his country and community. He proudly served in the Army National Guard and he loved spending time in the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting deer, turkey, and other wildlife, and fishing for bass. He is also remembered for his patient, yet competitive, softball coaching skills. When he wasn’t working, coaching, hunting, or fishing, he served on the board of many local organizations, often in top leadership roles, including President of Winnsboro Autumn Trails Association, Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce, Winnsboro Industrial Foundation, Winnsboro Rotary Club, and numerous others. He also served on the board of the old Winnsboro Hospital and was part of the local leadership team that recruited Presbyterian Hospital to invest in medical facilities in Winnsboro; he, also, served on their first local advisory board of directors. He was a Sharon Shriner and a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge where he achieved their highest honor of Master Mason.

Gordon was also a longtime member of Pine Street Baptist Church in Winnsboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents and stepdaughter, Rhnea Hamrick.

Survivors include his loving wife, Norma Rhoades Wilkinson of Tyler; daughters, Jan Mills of Winnsboro and Melissa Wages of Pipe Creek; stepdaughter, Andrea Hebb of Tyler; three grandchildren, Rusdon and Raygan Mills, and Rainey Wages Giusti; and two great-grandchildren, Tyleigh and Sutton Mills, along with three step-grandchildren, Harrison, Ashley, and Hamilton Hebb.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Beaty Funeral Home, 816 W. Broadway, Winnsboro, Texas. Funeral Services will follow at 2:00 PM at the funeral home with Rev. Charles Ethridge conducting the eulogy. Interment will be at Good Hope Cemetery in Winnsboro with James Spicer, Dave Saucier, Don Hightower, James Duggar, Ben Anderson and Harrison Hebb serving as pallbearers.

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