Harold Wilkey

Harold R. Wilkey, a Chattanooga resident, devoted family man, proud veteran and avid outdoorsman-died on Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at the age of 74. Wilkey was a retired member of the U.S. Navy Seabees. He served in the Vietnam era and decades later was one of a small group of reservists deployed for active duty in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. Wilkey worked as surveyor for the Tennessee Valley Authority and loved being outdoors. Following his retirement from TVA he and his wife, Mary W. Young Wilkey, led Chattanooga Hiking Club excursions on local trails and throughout the Appalachians. Wilkey also felt at home behind the wheel of almost any vehicle. In his time he restored, showed and raced classic American muscle cars. Raised in Rhea County, Wilkey graduated with the Rhea Central High School class of 1957. He attended Michigan State University and the University of Chattanooga. He was a member of the Ringgold Church of Christ and a longtime officer of American Legion Jim King Post 107 in Soddy-Daisy. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his brother, Jim Wilkey, of Battle Creek, Mich.; sons Britt Wilkey, of Hopewell, Va. and Hal Wilkey, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and daughter, Janice Rodriguez, of Tampa, Fla. Other survivors are grandchildren, Johnatan Wilkey, Wenzel Wilkey, Leanza Wilkey, Rachel Rodriguez and Jessica Rodriguez and great-grandchildren, Kamora Smith and Anthony Smith. Wilkeys parents, Charles and Hazel Walker Wilkey; and sister, Dorothy Wilson, preceded him in death, as did a former wife, Jo Gaddis Wilkey. Other survivors include stepsons, Jacob Young, Mill Valley, Calif., Jeff Young, Chattanooga; great-grandchildren, Hunter Robinson and Riley Yoeman; and grandchildren, Jeffrey Young and Brandi Young. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ringgold Church of Christ, 7099 Nashville Street, Ringgold, GA 30736. Graveside services with full military honors and burial will be 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, at Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga.