Death of Robert A. Wilkins Jr.

Robert (Bob) A. Wilkins Jr., professor of chemistry, emeritus, died Monday, July 2, 2018, following complications with pneumonia. Bob served as chair of the Andrews University Department of Chemistry from 1971–1988, when he resumed full-time teaching until his retirement on July 1, 2002. Bob was a dedicated Christian and an esteemed professor who influenced the lives of thousands of students during his career.

His memorial service will take place Sabbath, July 7, at 4 p.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church (visitation begins at 3 p.m.). Online messages and memories may be shared at allredfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bob’s memory to two projects at Andrews—the Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry and the Horn Museum. Gifts may be made online at andrews.edu, or checks may be mailed to Andrews University, Office of Development, 8903 U.S. 31, Berrien Springs MI 49104.

Please remember his family, friends and University colleagues in prayer as they mourn his passing.

Life Sketch

Robert Archibald Wilkins Jr. was born July 19, 1938, to Robert and Dorothy Wilkins in Wauseon, Ohio. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Archibald Wilkins, a physician, assisted with the delivery. Bob’s family lived in Columbus, Ohio, until 1945, then moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, and then to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1952.

Bob attended public schools, took clarinet lessons, and enjoyed bicycle riding and playing baseball in the summer. His sister, Jean Anne, completed the family on February 8, 1940. Bob’s father was a pharmaceutical salesman. While Bob was sick with a childhood disease he began collecting stamps and baseball cards, especially the Cleveland Indians. This became a lifelong hobby.

Bob graduated from Lancaster High School in June 1956. While living in Lancaster, Bob, his mother and sister attended the Seventh-day Adventist church. Bob was baptized in the Lancaster church in 1956. The religious influence was from his paternal grandmother, Bertha Morris Wilkins, who was a strict Seventh-day Adventist. Bob’s father, who was raised as an Adventist, attended Emmanuel Missionary College (EMC) with Floyd Rittenhouse, who later became president of EMC.

After graduating from high school, Bob drove to EMC in Berrien Springs, Michigan, to work in the book bindery for the summer before starting his freshman year. Shortly after beginning his chemistry studies at EMC, he was summoned to the president’s office. Unbeknownst to Bob, his paternal grandmother had sent a letter to President Rittenhouse to tell him that her grandson would be attending and to assure President Rittenhouse that Bob would be a better student than his father had been! While working in the book bindery during his junior year, Beth Foster came to work there. Bob graduated from EMC in June 1961 and continued his studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he completed a Master of Science but continued his relationship with Beth. They married in 1962, after she graduated from Andrews University.

Bob returned to work as a teaching assistant for a short time at Andrews, then he and Beth moved to Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania, where he received his doctorate in chemistry on August 26, 1973. Here he met and became friends with the Bill Davidson and Von Dorpowski families and was instrumental in founding the nearby Seventh-day Adventist church.

In 1971 Bob and Beth returned to Andrews, where he served as chair of the Department of Chemistry from 1971–1988, when he returned to full-time teaching until he retired on July 1, 2002. Bob received the annual Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence several times and was also selected as Teacher of the Year numerous times. Bob and Beth were very generous to students and each year had two students live with them.

While at Andrews, a young chemistry major by the name of Bill Mutch had Bob for a professor. In 1973 Bob hired Bill Mutch as a fellow professor. Bob, Beth, Bill and Pat were neighbors and planned several summer vacations together, including backpacking and hiking in Teton National Park, Glacier National Park and the Trinity Alps in Northern California. Bob cherished his relationships with his colleagues such as Ralph Scorpio, Peter Wong and David Steen, to mention just a few.

On June 21, 1979, Bob experienced a sudden loss. His wife, Beth, died unexpectedly while at his sister’s house in Flint, Michigan. 

Some time after Beth’s death, Bob married Jean Fisher, who had recently joined the Seventh-day Adventist church. Jean’s two teenage daughters, Karen and Mary, also lived with them. Bob and Jean were together for nearly 10 years, but as time went on, they found their interests and commitments were quite different and they grew apart.

In 1991, while attending Singles Club events, Bob met Fran Watkinson. They were married on March 17, 1992, and celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary this year. They loved to travel together and also participated in many volunteer projects. They traveled to Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. They enjoyed warm winters in Florida, western Mexico helping to construct an orphanage, and Arizona. Bob also served on the board of Reach International and traveled to Romania to assist with caring and nurturing the orphans. In 2009 they traveled to Jordan to participate in a “dig” at Tall Jalul after which they enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise. Bob was fascinated by archaeology and believed it to be extremely important in validating the Bible. He often volunteered as a docent at the Horn Museum.

In recent years Bob was a devoted Sabbath School teacher and developed a seminar about creation versus evolution—with the literal seven-day creation as the foundation of his beliefs. He treasured the fellowship of their Friday evening Bible study group as well.
 
Bob became ill in late May, thinking that he had only a cold. On May 26, he was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Pastors Skip Bell and Don Dronen visited and prayed with Bob several times. It was hoped that Bob would recover and be discharged to begin rehabilitation. Despite the many prayers and excellent care and treatment, Bob was unable to recover.

Survivors include his wife, Fran Watkinson, whom he married in 1992; sister, Jean (Kent) Bermingham; niece, Susan (Nico) Franano; nephew, Kent (Charity) Bermingham Jr.; great-nephews and nieces Aaron, Andrew, Catherine Grace and Enzo; and stepdaughter, Jackie (John) Hilderbrandt. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beth May Foster Wilkins, whom he married in 1962; and niece Kellie Susan Bermingham.