Claude Windell Wilkins

Windell Wilkins passed away Tuesday September 15,, 2015. He is survived by his children Eric and Ashley, their spouses Ginny and Lisa, grandson Nicholas and siblings Ann Parker, Linda Raines, Jane Waters, Mary Phillips and David Owensby and their families. Originally from Gaffney SC, Windell was a scholar athlete at Gaffney High and continued to love sports for the rest of his life. Windell went on to serve in the US Navy and attended Clemson University and UNC-Charlotte before beginning a nearly thirty year career with Duke Power. After retiring from Duke Energy he turned his attention to real estate and general contracting in order to stay busy. As a young father he was an active member of the Westchester Optimist Club and spent many years coaching football and baseball. He loved cooking on the grill and was happiest when entertaining friends and family. Like many of his generation he grew up shag dancing to beach music at Ocean Drive which gave him an enduring love for the coast and instilled in him a desire to live there "one day". "That" day eventually arrived and he decided to fulfill his long held dream of living at the coast. He, and longtime girlfriend Wanda McCarley, built a house on Edisto Island and he spent the years that followed entertaining friends and family in between trips abroad and weekends in Charlotte following his beloved Panthers. A memorial service will be held in his honor at 1pm Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC. In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Association, 3800 Shamrock Dr. Charlotte, NC 28215. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.