Robert William Wilkins

Robert William Wilkins, La Grande city leader, civic booster and Eastern Oregon icon, died January 28, 2010, after a short battle with cancer. He was 79 years old. Recitation of the holy rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, in Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. Interment will follow in Hillcrest East Cemetery.

Mr. Wilkins was born September 10, 1930 in Portland, Oregon. He was the only child of William E. and Marie H. (Summers) Wilkins. Following graduation from La Grande High School in 1948, he attended Eastern Oregon College and the University of Oregon. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Oregon in 1952. He was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.

He was drafted in 1953 during the Korean War and counted himself fortunate to serve his army tour of duty at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. On November 27, 1954, he married Joyce Ruth Armstrong of Salem, Oregon and they spent their first year of marriage in San Francisco. In September 1955 they moved to La Grande and made it their permanent home. It turned out to be the perfect place to nurture a 49-year marriage, raise a family of five, run multiple businesses and begin a lifelong commitment of service to others.

Mr. Wilkins was president and principal in Eastern Oregon Agencies, Inc., an all lines insurance agency operating as Wilkins Insurance Agency in La Grande and Farris Insurance in Enterprise. He was chairman and owner of the Abstract and Title Company, a Union County real estate escrow and title insurance company. He was a member of the board of directors for the Oregon Land Title Association, past president of the Union-Wallowa County Board of Realtors and a former associate member of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers.

His tireless work on behalf of the Oregon insurance industry was gratefully acknowledged by his peers when he received the Arthur M. Eppstein Insurance Achievement Award in 1990. The honor is awarded by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Oregon (IIABO) to individuals who have given distinguished service to the insurance industry, the local community and the state of Oregon. Mr. Wilkins served on the board of the IIABO for eleven years. He served on the National Board of Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America as State National Director from Oregon. He was honored as Agent of the Year in 1989.

As an active member of his community, Mr. Wilkins served on the board of directors for the La Grande Industrial Development Corporation, the Union County Economic Development Corporation, and as a board member of the Grande Ronde Development Company. Under his leadership, a three-person committee annexed over 1,900 citizens, 450 acres of land and nearly $13 million of assessed valuation into the City of La Grande.

Mr. Wilkins served on the Grande Ronde Hospital board of trustees for 15 years, culminating in a four-year term as chairman from 1986-1989. During his 15 year association, the hospital grew to exceed an $18 million expense budget as Union County's third largest employer with 45 members on its active medical staff, 320 employees and an 84 bed acute care facility that included a transitional care department, home health agency, advanced life support ground ambulance, Blue Mountain Aero-medical fixed wing medical transport and a Northeast Oregon Surgical Center.

Mr. Wilkins served for eight years as chairman of the La Grande Cemetery Maintenance District, including 24 years of elected service on its board of directors. He had an eye for detail that encompassed placing American flags at the gravesites of deceased veterans every Memorial Day. He was an excellent skier and tireless promoter of Anthony Lakes ski area that included 16 years of service on the board of the Anthony Lakes Ski Corporation. He had a passion for the outdoors and served on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest advisory board for 11 years.

Mr. Wilkins was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for Distinguished Service to the Boy Scouts of America. He served as an adult scout for over 25 years in various leadership roles as a district commissioner, unit leader, Explorer Post advisor, and member of the Blue Mountain Council Board. He was a member of the national staff at the 1969 Boy Scout National Jamboree and was a Wood Badge trained scout leader.

Mr. Wilkins loved Eastern Oregon and especially La Grande. He was the recipient of the 1979 Man of the Year award from the La Grande-Union County Chamber of Commerce, the Distinguished Service Award from the La Grande Jaycees, and was a former member of the Board of Directors of the La Grande-Union County Chamber of Commerce. He was a past district governor of Lions International District 36-G and past president of the La Grande Lions Club. He was an active member of the Elks, Eagles, American Legion and Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church.

Mr. Wilkins always believed in higher education. As a University of Oregon football player, alumnus and avid Duck fan, he served on the board of directors of the UO Alumni Association from 1983-1986. He supported Eastern Oregon University and the EOU Foundation for nearly 30 years as a donor, community advocate and longtime trustee. He was a past chairman of the EOU Foundation Board in 1995.

He is survived by sons Mike (Debbie) Wilkins of Lake Oswego, OR, Tom Wilkins of Portland, OR, Rich (Jill) Wilkins of Lake Oswego, OR, Steve (Jodi) Wilkins of Beaverton, OR, and daughter Theresa (Chuck) Parker of West Linn, OR. He always found great joy being with his eight grandchildren, Malia, Kelsey, Nicholas, Peter, Jacen, Jakob, Caden and Logan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, in 2004; and his parents Bill and Marie Wilkins of La Grande.

Our dad's service, values, work ethic and sense of fair play were an inspiration to all. He was a man of enormous and varied talents that was as comfortable on the football field as he was on the piano. He was a lifelong learner that enjoyed history and travel. He loved to share a good story and a good laugh, often with a good beverage. We are deeply grateful for the life lessons he taught us right up to the day he died. We love him and will miss him dearly. It is an honor to celebrate his remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital or the Eastern Oregon University Foundation, in care of the Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande, OR 97850.

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