John Wilkins

John L "JL" Wilkins, aged 73, of Hickory Plains, Arkansas, passed from this life on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. John was born on April 10, 1942 to the late Freddie Coy and Thelma (Sullivan) Wilkins of North Little Rock. JL attended Sylvan Hills High School and enlisted in the United States Army in 1959. He served as a paratrooper during the Korean War era and was stationed in Korea after the war truce as a Staff Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1972, JL started what would later become John Wilkins Trucking. It was a cross - country trucking company, which he operated until 2011.

JL was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hilary and one daughter, Melody Wilkins Kinney.

JL is survived by one sister, Geneva Wilkins Boatman and husband Ralph of Little Rock; a very special cousin, Phillip Sullivan of Mayfield, Kentucky; two sons, Jay Wilkins and wife Jeannie of Smithville, Arkansas and Darren Wilkins and wife Sheila of Sherwood, Arkansas; two daughters, Shannon Wilkins and Micah Wilkins both of Tampa, Florida; five grandchildren, Jennifer Collier, Chris Kinney, Jason Wilkins, Sherry Yancey and Jasmine Wilkins; six great-grandchildren and a host of friends including, Mike McDaniel and Diane Hanks, both of Carlisle, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Funeral service will be Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe with visitation to follow. Cremation arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, a certified Veterans Funeral Care Provider.