Russell Dewey Wilkerson

Russell Dewey Wilkerson, 61, of North Little Rock passed away on Friday, February 28, 2020 at the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock.  He was born at the old Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.  With the exception of his military service he lived his whole life in Central Arkansas.  Russell was a graduate of North Little Rock Northeast High School and Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas.

Russell was a longtime member of Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock.  He had a complete faith in the Virgin Birth and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who knew him have no doubt that he is in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ.  There he is free from the physical limitations and pain of his later life.  Reunited with friends and family he sits at the throne of our Redeemer.

Russell was a man of small stature but had a big heart.  He dedicated his life to helping other people.  His two great accomplishments were raising his daughter as a single father and his military service.  At a time when most fathers were not single parents, Russell worked hard to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of his daughter.

Russell served twelve years in the Navy as a medical corpsman, at Camp LeJuene, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton in California.  He trained as a combat corpsman and served with the Marines in Okinawa, Japan.  He was also on the sub tender USS Hunley based first in Pascagoula, Mississippi and then in Holy Locke, Scotland.   His final posting was in Norfolk, Virginia.  After his service he worked at UAMS for twenty years as a dental lab technician.  For much of that time he worked in the UAMS Cancer Center, where he created appliances for cancer patients.

Russell is preceded in death by his parents Whitten Dean Wilkerson and Mary LaJune Wilkerson.  He is survived by his daughter Heather Wilkerson and granddaughter Addison Evanoff both of Alexander; sister Susan Daniel of North Little Rock, brother Steve Wilkerson of Franklin, Tennessee; and two nieces and three nephews.  Uncle Russ, we love you very much.

Visitation is from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at Smith Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107) in Sherwood.  The funeral service will be held at 10:30AM Thursday March 5, at the same location with committal following at 12:00 noon at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery (1501 West Maryland Ave) in North Little Rock.  In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Faith Baptist Church.

Visit, www.smithsherwoodfuneralhome.com for online guest register.