Thomas M. Wilkins

Born March 9, 1923; the first son to Dorothy Gladys Nitchman and James Marona Wilkins, in Caldwell, ID, died of natural causes on November 28, 2012, in his home at Grace Assisted Living in Boise, ID. He was raised in Caldwell where he attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Caldwell High School in 1941. He attended the University of Idaho, was a member of Phi Delta Theta and graduated with a BS in business in 1949. Drafted on January 15, 1943, into the Army Signal Corp. and was trained as a radio operator in a radar outfit and obtained the rank of corporal until discharged July 15, 1945. He was stationed from Florida to California and everywhere in between. Met and married Melba LouEllen (Hall, Price) Buchanan, whose darling 2 year old daughter; Judy, stole his heart. They were married March 10, 1951, and moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1952 where he worked at CC Andersons’ as a buyer. Second addition to the family, Janine Lynette was born in Boise, Idaho, in December, 1952. In 1953, he became employed by Idaho Power Co. in Twin Falls, Idaho, where the third edition, Bradley Vaughn was born in October 1955. He was an active member of Elks BPOE #1183, and went through the chairs to become the Exhaulted Ruler in 1966-1967. The family returned to Boise in 1972 where he served as the Manager of SRVEA (Snake River Valley Electrical Assn.) and retired from there in March 1985. After retirement, they spent several years snow birding to Arizona, and eventually moved to Chateau DeBoise in 2005. Wife, Melba passed away after 56 years and 11 months of marriage in 2008. After that he moved to Bonaventure Place and then finally to Grace Assisted Living where he spent the remaining days of his life. He was loving and stern and had a great sense of pride, patriotism, wisdom, integrity, resourcefulness, honesty; and most of all, love for his family. He was the family backbone and will be missed deeply. He shared his love of the outdoors with his family and we hope he is camping, fishing, hunting and building his wooden trucks up there in heaven. There were many things he taught us to enjoy and value. He was preceded in death by his wife Melba LouEllen (Hall, Price, Buchanan), parents; James Marona Wilkins and Dorothy Gladys (Nitchman) and brother; Donald James Wilkins. He is survived by daughter Judith R. (Buchanan) Trout and husband Ronald V. Trout of Boise, daughter Janine L (Wilkins, Wilson) Smith and husband Randy L. Smith of Ontario, OR, son Bradley V. Wilkins and wife Christine (Wilkinson) of Fruita, CO; 4 grandchildren: Melanie R. (Trout, Breinholt) Davis, Phillip R.Trout, Roger E. Trout, Nicole L. Wilson, and 15 great-grandchildren: Nikolas & Kaden Breinholt, Aleksa, Cortnee, Brooklynn, Derryk, Ryan, Cameron, Benjamin & Ellayna Davis, Kyle Kron, Austin & Aiden Trout, Kyren and Skyla Trout. Many thanks to the wonderful care given him in his final days by Legacy Hospice of Boise and ABC Home Health Services as well as the unforgettable staff at Grace Assisted Living in Boise. We really appreciated everything that was done for him by all parties. Services will be held at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 624 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605, on Friday, December 28, 2012, at 2:00 pm. Donations may be made in his name to the charity of your choice. Service Information