[Oasfaa] Beloved Professor and Administrator Dr. Orin Wilkins Passes Away

Tue Mar 12 10:15:16 CDT 2019

Beloved Professor and Administrator Dr. Orin Wilkins Passes Away
==========

Dr. Orin Wilkins, former professor and Dean of Academics for Southwestern, passed away on March 3, 2019 at the age of 86.

President Dr. Murray stated, "Dr. Wilkins worked tirelessly during his tenure at Southwestern College (Southwestern Christian University) to move the college forward during the early years of regional accreditation and the development of faculty and programs. Orin was a true servant leader and honored alumnus."

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of this man who served admirably and influenced the lives of so many.

ORIN'S OBITUARY

Orin Lee Wilkins, 86, of Bethany, OK, participated in his final graduation to glory Sunday, March 3, 2019 at home. Orin was a child of God of impeccable character and uncommonly quiet strength. He has been husband, dad, granddad, and g-daddy to those of us who love him most.

Orin was born January 14, 1933, to Hubert & Velma (Watterson) Wilkins, and raised in the small town of Kingston, OK. Known as Sonny to his family and community, Orin graduated from Kingston High School in 1951 and moved to Del City to work. He began attending OKC Southwestern College where he met a young work-study co-ed named Patsy Robinson. As God directed, they married in 1953 just before the US Army sent him to Europe for 16 months as part of the post-World War II occupational troops where he served as an ambulance driver.

After his release from service, Orin resumed his education while working at Tinker Air Force Base. He and Patsy also began a family. Their first child, David, was born in 1956, Rebecca in 1958, and 10 days shy of a year later, Kenneth in 1959. During those years Orin completed a Bachelor of Theology degree from Southwestern and followed it with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany Nazarene College. With those in hand he started his career in secondary education, serving not only as a college professor but eventually as Dean of Academics for Southwestern, one of his alma maters. Later he added both a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Education degree from Oklahoma State University to his resume. He taught for over 35 years combined, 20 at Southwestern, two as a graduate assistant at OSU, and 15 at Rose State College, influencing innumerable students.

Orin and Patsy’s family has grown in the 65 years of marriage: son, David and his wife Diane, grandchildren – Alicia (husband Kevin) and Brian (wife Jennifer), great grandchildren – Ryann, Carolyn, Adrienne, Robert, David, and Olivia; son, Ken and his wife Brenda, grandchildren - Renee (husband Dustin) and Amanda (husband Kevin), great grandchildren – Blake, Brooklyn, and Natalie. Daughter Rebecca chose a career path and succumbed to cancer three years ago after providing lots of love and attention to her nieces and nephews.

In his “spare” time, Orin tended a family garden plot, purchased a pickup/camper combo for family get-a-ways, and added a new master bedroom, bath, and two-car garage to the back of their house. He taught his children to trout fish while wading Colorado rivers, skied with them and grandchildren down mountain slopes, rode bike trails, ran half-marathons, and entertained children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren on his knees. His life has been full, but ours has been fuller of the divine blessing pouring out through Orin’s love for us. Heaven got sweeter for us this week and we look forward to reuniting with him when our time on earth has ended.

Visitation were Friday, March 8, and a Memorial service was held Saturday, March 9, at Christ’s Legacy Church, Yukon, OK.

Memorial gifts may be made in Orin’s memory to Christ’s Legacy Forward-n-Faith.

To share thoughts and memories with the family, please visit (https://sable.madmimi.com/c/166220?id=310199.776.1.ef6d78533e874271027f4fd4486a45fb ( https://sable.madmimi.com/c/166220?id=310199.763.1.2c007be5f1dc944107af47c5e1e7d64f ).

Web Version
https://sable.madmimi.com/c/166220?id=310199.773-127.1.f62ddc4e0c82bf8d456d426968864f8e&p=eyIlN0IlN0JtaW1pLXNpZ25hdHVyZSU3RCU3RCI6IjE1MDM3OTU3NS0xMDY2OTgzMDE0Ny0xODNhZGMzNDdlYzA2MjQ3MDI1ZDNlYTE3MjY2OGQxYWVlYjg4NDNkIiwiJTdCJTdCZW1haWxJZCU3RCU3RCI6IjMxMDE5OSJ9

Unsubscribe
https://go.madmimi.com/opt_out?pact=310199-150379575-10669830147-183adc347ec06247025d3ea172668d1aeeb8843d&amx=10669830147

Preferences
https://sable.madmimi.com/c/166220?id=310199.774-128.1.a8fcd06ece55705900d36bd0d2c9d252&p=eyIlN0IlN0JtaW1pLXNpZ25hdHVyZSU3RCU3RCI6IjE1MDM3OTU3NS0xMDY2OTgzMDE0Ny0xODNhZGMzNDdlYzA2MjQ3MDI1ZDNlYTE3MjY2OGQxYWVlYjg4NDNkIiwiJTdCJTdCbWVtYmVyLWlkJTdEJTdEIjoxMDY2OTgzMDE0NywiJTdCJTdCZW1haWxJZCU3RCU3RCI6IjMxMDE5OSJ9

Southwestern Christian University | 7210 NW 39th Expressway      -    P.O. Box 340    -     Bethany, OK 73008     -       swcu.edu
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oasfaa/attachments/20190312/c4b03180/attachment.html>