The Rev. Joseph D. Wilkins Sr. (Joe), 73, of Lynchburg, passed away, Friday, May 16, 2014, at Avante Nursing Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Joe was a retired pastor of the Church of God, where he had pastored for over 40 years, and was loved and respected by many. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served in Korea.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Will D. and Mary Brinkley Wilkins.

Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia A. Wilkins, and three children: a daughter, Laura A. Brown and husband, Larry, of Amherst, and two sons, Joseph D. Wilkins Jr., of Gladys, and Kenneth W. Wilkins and friend, Kysa George, of Reston.

Joe is also survived by five grandchildren, Jaime J. Justus and husband, Chris, of Gladstone; Melanie J. Mays and husband, Jason, of Gladstone; Joseph A. Wilkins and wife, Daisy, of Western Port, Md.; Katie L. Wilkins and mother, Missy Wilkins, of Front Royal; Elizabeth Cross and husband, Paul, of Hernando, Fla.; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Lee Savage, of Virginia Beach, and brother, James Allen Wilkins and wife, Barbara, of Suffolk; four nieces and one nephew; his mother-in-law, Marie P. Wortham; and his faithful dog Buddy, and many loving friends!

The family accepted friends and family at Whitten Timberlake Chapel from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 18, 2014, and at other times at the home. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Monday, May 19, 2014, at Whitten Timberlake Chapel with Pastor Bill Evans officiating. Interment followed at Presbyterian Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Amazing Grace Pentecostal Holiness Church for the missions program.

Joe was a graduate of Suffolk High School, and his favorite saying was, “I’m peanut born and peanut bred, and when I die I’ll be a peanut dead, Rah, Rah Suffolk!”