Services for Ernest L. “Pop” Wilkinson of Meadville are 2 p.m.,Sunday, Aug. 15 at Meadville Methodist Church with burial in Mt.Caramel Cemetery in Franklin County.

Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville is in charge of arrangements.The services will be conducted by the Revs. Webb Armstrong andDavid Cox.

Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Sunday at Meadville Methodist Church.

Mr. Wilkinson, 72, died Aug. 13, 2004, at Franklin MemorialHospital in Meadville. He was born in Yazoo County on Oct. 14,1931, to John M. Wilkinson and Mattie Smith Wilkinson.

He was a Navy veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. While inthe service, he received the National Defense Service Medal, GoodConduct Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon,Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and theUnited Nations Service Medal. He was also a lifetime member ofVeterans of Foreign Wars Fleet Reserve Association. He was aretired U.S. Postal Service employee. He was a member of MeadvilleMethodist Church.

Preceding him in death were his father, John Wilkinson; and asister, Daisy Beckham.

Survivors are his mother; his wife, Betty Bonds Wilkinson ofMeadville; his daughter, Denice W. Casteel of Monroe, La.; his son,Jimmy Wilkinson of Meadville; his sisters, Altine Delhomne of BreauBridge, La., Dessie Mizelle of Byram, and Onida Lewis of Natchez;his brother, George Wilkinson of Lafayette, La.; his brother-in-lawand sister-in-law, John and Jean Bonds of Natchez; fivegrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces andnephews.

Pallbearers will be John Beckham, John A. Bonds, WilliamDelhomne Jr., David Lewis, Bruce A. Mizelle and RonaldWilkinson.