Wilkin Evans Thomas, Jr., age 85, of Wilmington, DE passed away on August 2, 2021. Wilk was born in Englewood, NJ to Wilkin and Margaret Thomas. He graduated from Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, NJ. Following high school, Wilk graduated Cum Laude from Williams College with a degree in physics and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. He later attended Yale University for graduate studies in physics.
Wilk joined the US Bureau of Standards in Gaithersburg, MD and then joined the scientific staff of E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company Experimental Station in Wilmington, DE. He earned his JD from University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, MD and joined DuPont’s Legal Department, later heading up their Asia Pacific Law Division in Tokyo, Japan just prior to retiring.
Wilk was predeceased by his beloved wife of 50 years, Lavinia Burwell Hillsman, III of Teaneck, NJ. Some of his greatest joys were the years they lived in Tokyo, Japan and when they traveled extensively throughout the world. He was a member of the Wilmington Country Club where he enjoyed playing golf. He was an avid reader, lover of the NY Times crossword puzzles and an ardent follower of financial markets. Most of all, his family meant the world to him.
Wilk is survived by his three children, their spouses and seven grandchildren: Doug Thomas and Chris Conn, PhD (Cameron and Connor) from Ellicott City, MD; Rob and Ann Marie Thomas (Forrest, Ashley Ann, and Chandler) from Hockessin, DE; and Meg and Alan Quaintance (Morgan and Tyler) from Hockessin, DE. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Sally Turnbull Hillsman, PhD from Washington, D.C.
A visitation will be held on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 10-11:00 am at Pike Creek Bible Church, 199 Polly Drummond Hill Rd., Newark, DE 19711. A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 11:00 am at Pike Creek Bible Church and friends are invited to remain after to the service to share memories of Wilk. Interment will be private in the Turnbull family plot in Cambridge, NY.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to STEMH: 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809.
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