July 29, 1940 - Aug. 12, 2010
Wayne Miller Wilkinson of New Smyrna Beach was added as one more star in the constellation for sailors to steer by when he was called to heaven from Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas on August 12, 2010.
He was born in Elizabeth City, NC on July 29, 1940. He served his country in the US Army's 5th Special Forces, and he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of the elite "Green Beret" Special Forces 12-man team as their radio operator. He received the following: Combat Infantry, South Vietnam Expeditionary and the South Vietnam Combat Paratrooper Medals. The Army is where Wayne learned the values that made him a leader in the community, a man of integrity, with an immense work ethic. Following his military service, he graduated from Old Dominion University and became a builder/developer for many years in Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks of NC, Oriental, NC and Brunswick, GA.
He moved to New Smyrna Beach in 2005 after cruising and living aboard his sailing yacht in the Caribbean for ten years. Wayne was an avid sailor all of his life, participating in offshore Hobie Cat races and extensive offshore cruising off the Atlantic Coast, Bermuda, BVI's and Bahamas. He oversaw the building of his first cruising vessel in France and sailed it back to NC. He was a pilot, skydiver, scuba diver, passionate fisherman and held a Coast Guard Masters License. Wayne has been an active member of the United Methodist Church in the various communities in which he has lived. He has participated in a number of mission trips with his church and Victory Junction. He is a supporter of many charitable organizations and a member of the New Smyrna Yacht Club.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Brenda; stepsons, Bill and Brad (Larissa) Harris; and three step granddaughters, Emily, Brenna, and Bradie all of Brunswick, GA. In addition he leaves behind many loving friends.
A Memorial service will be held at the Coronado Community United Methodist Church, 201 South Peninsula Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL at 2:00pm on Sunday, August 22.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to an organization of which he was a founding Board Member: Cudas Unhooked, which helps to graduate at-risk and homeless students, PO Box 394 N.S.B., FL 32170, and the Southeast Volusia Humane Society, 1200 S. Glencoe Rd., N.S.B., FL 32168.
