Charles W. Wilkinson

Charles Wilkinson, Illustrator 1932-2010 Charles William Wilkinson of Detroit, Michigan, passed away on December 4th. Born in 1932, he was the son of Edward and Mary Wilkinson. A lifelong resident of Detroit, MI, he graduated from Cass Technical High School and went on to study fine art and illustration at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. During the 1960's he began his career as an illustrator and gained national recognition. His illustrations appeared in numerous publications including Ladies Home Journal, McCall's Magazine and The New York Times as well as many book covers and posters including a series for Mobil Masterpiece Theatre. His images were often reminiscent of the Jazz Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald nostalgia. His work received numerous awards and has been exhibited in New York and Michigan. During the 1990's into his later years he devoted much of his creative passion to what he called "Parable paintings". Evocative of a modern day Hieronymous Bosch with elements of American Folk Art, the paintings are startling images of spiritual realism which he often described as "didactic surrealism." He was dedicated to both his family and church and was a well loved Bible teacher. He also taught art for many years at the Center For Creative Studies in Detroit. He is survived by his wife Bettie Jane to whom he has been married for over fifty-five hears, his three children, Jeffrey of Newburgh, NY, Jill Corso of Dearborn, MI and Sally Lamb-McCune of Ithaca, NY as well as six grandchildren. He is also dearly remembered by his sister Carol Bartlett of Quincy, Michigan, and most dearly by his twin brother Richard of Punta Gorda, Florida. Visitation Thursday 5-9 PM and Friday 12-9 PM at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd., Livonia. Funeral Service Saturday 10:30 AM, with visiting from 10:00 AM, at Messiah Church, 3816 Toledo Ave., Detroit, MI 48216 Memorial donations may be directed to Northwest Fellowship C/O Bob Bonner, 19463 Lancashire, Detroit, Michigan 48223 or Messiah Church or any other part of God's work. Share a memory of Charles with his family by signing the guestbook. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154