Faith "Faye" Wilkinson

FAITH “FAYE” WILKINSON
MCALLEN – Faith “Faye” Wilkinson, 82, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 15, 2018, at her residence in McAllen.
She’s born, she lived, she died! The born part was in Lawton, OK, November 2, 1935, came to Texas while still taking a bottle, lived in South Texas finally settling in Corpus Christi due to the 2nd World War with her father and grandfather working in Civil Service at the Navy Base. She went to school, moved to San Antonio – worked - then met and married “her man”, Frank Wilkinson, in February 1957 and moved to the Valley where Frank had a cigarette vending business. Faye worked alongside with him in this business, taking no time off when she became pregnant and gave birth to their only child, Karen Faye. They stayed in the Valley until 1964 when the three of them moved to Nottingham, England where Frank’s father, “Wilky” Wilkinson had started a manufacturing/operating business of Coin Operated Slot Machines and needed Frank’s help in running same. They stayed in Nottingham for five years, then moved to London for two years.
Faye didn’t work at the factory or partake in the business end while in England. She took care of managing her home and looking after Karen and Frank all the while having let the history and charm of England seep into her bones. She spent a great deal of time shopping for antiques and going to museums and just basically living as the English did. Their life in England led to many visits abroad and they were able to go to numerous countries and see a whole different style of life that went on. Those were the good days until Frank’s father was killed in a tragic automobile accident back in the States. They stayed about another year, but Frank couldn’t handle being there without his Dad and he wanted to come back to McAllen where his Dad was buried to be near him.
Once back in 1970, Faye set about setting up a new household and got involved with Bridge Clubs and being “Susie Homemaker.” In 1974, together, Frank and Faye purchased Park Bowl in Edinburg which also had a full service restaurant. They set about remodeling the business which they ran together successfully for 18 years. In 1992, they remodeled and changed the business to an upscale billiard room/nightclub known as “Cadillac Jack’s Billiards” but unfortunately, Frank was diagnosed with cancer in September of ’92 and died October ’92. Their daughter, Karen Wilkinson Flanagan, was also a major part in running the bowling business and also contributed in a major way to operating C.J.’s Billiards along with Faye. In 2001, she sold the business and retired and seemed to stay as busy with various things as when she operated the business.
And now for the “died part”: Faye went on to search out her wonderful husband, with whom she had 35 years. After Frank died, her favorite “motto” that she lived by every day was “Death cannot defeat our love, it can only delay it.”
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frank Wilkinson; her mother, Naomi Williams; her grandparents, John and Bertha Kelly; her beloved sister, Patsy McBee; and her in-laws, Wilky and Hazel Wilkinson.
Faye is survived by her “best friend” and most loving daughter, Karen Faye Wilkinson Flanagan; her very special grandson, DK (Debra) Flanagan; a great-granddaughter, Debra Flanagan; a great-grandson, Killian Flanagan, all of McAllen; her stepdaughter, Kathy (Ken) Moore of Maui, HI; and Darla Jones, who was like a daughter to her.
-Obituary written by Faye
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, August 17, 2018, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in McAllen.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Friends of Animal Rescue, 4908 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597 and The Laurie P. Andrews PAWS Center, 2451 N US Expressway 281, Edinburg, TX 78541.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.