Ronald C. Wilkson's Obituary
Ronald “Ron” Cornelius Wilkson passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 4th, 2023, with his son James and wife Debbie at his side, following an unforeseen pneumonia complication leading to cardiac failure. It was a shock to us all, since he was running around doing “Ron” the day before. He was 84 years young living a full active life with his longtime partner Emma in Tierra Verde, Florida.
Ron was born on April 22, 1938 to Parker and Katharine Wilkson in Crystal City, Missouri. After graduating from Crystal City High School, he joined the Marines, serving in Japan and Korea, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal. Ron went on to study Business at Missouri, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree.
Fresh out of college, he joined American Appraisal doing large commercial valuation advisory services. He spent the majority of his career with American Appraisal, he spent several years working with MGIC and Marshall & Stephens Appraisal, but ultimately returned to American Appraisal where he retired. However, retire is not exactly Ron’s style we’ll get back to that shortly. Ron worked on some incredibly interesting valuation projects during those years such as the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, US Steel, Tropicana, Dole and many others.
In the early 1960’s Ron married his first wife Clare, and two boys came along soon after, James and Daniel born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the young family spent several years in the Lake Pewaukee region. Ron’s passion for boating took an intense hold of him during those days. Yes, he enjoyed snow skiing and tennis, but boats and water skiing were his thing, in others words, forever a boater. He was an active and fantastic father with his boys, passionately engaging in snow skiing, boating, tennis, ice-skating, fishing, football and gardening work.
After all of that snow shoveling, in June of 1974, he met the love of his life, she was called Florida. Jimmy Buffet and Ron had become kindred spirits at least in Ron’s mind. It’s the land of sun, fun, humidity and water. Can you say boats? Ron was in heaven, tons of great fathering activities, with plenty of action to keep his growing boys occupied with.
One surprising day, Ron adopted a young parrot named China in 1992, he is still with us. Ron wrapped up his career at American Appraisal, sold his house on Lake Carroll, in Carrollwood, on the Tampa side of the bridge and moved across the Howard Franklin Bridge to the gulf coast to beautiful Tierra Verde in the mid-1990s.
Ron was reborn, with amazing youthful exuberance living the coastal life in Tierra Verde, countless friendships, of course they have lots of boats, and the island life was perfect. He did not like the idea of retiring and his career had always required a real estate brokerage license. He was about to embark on a whole new journey, and boy did he live it.
Ron was a force of nature with his capable ways and brilliant mind; his proven background in handling people in the complex negotiations of his prior professional life made the move in both yacht sales (he likes boats) and real estate became his new passion. He became a licensed yacht broker for about a decade in conjunction with an extraordinarily successful real estate business focusing on the beaches, and investor management throughout Pinellas County and this was for almost 28 years right to the day he passed away. Many of his clients became friends and many friends became clients. Ron seemed unstoppable and he loved it!
By now James had grown up, gotten married and introduced a couple of grandkids into Ron’s life. Alyssa and Parker referred to Ron as “dock master,” (you see Ron liked boats) frankly he should have picked “yacht master.” Alyssa had adhered to that moniker because she was the first grandchild, and Ron thought grandpa sounded old. Later he was finally referred to as granddad. Ron’s other son Daniel has a rather serious mental illness. Thus, Ron always the rock solid dependable man and father became Daniel’s shepherd watching over him with enormous attention and protection. He was always on the case and managing Daniel with concern and love. He was always the great advisor, supporter and the loving father to James.
At about the time Ron began this exciting life in Tierra Verde, he walked across the street to Billy’s Stone Crab and Bar and found himself the match of his life. Ron was complex, yet quiet, kind of the “hilarious straight man” he loved to be seen at the party, but this beauty WAS the party! She was also a force to be reckoned with and we all know her as Emma! She was the queen of London Hair, he was the rock solid man that could handle hurricane Emma! Goodness, if you lived in the St. Pete beach area or Tierra Verde or knew anything about the Don Cesar Hotel, well you heard about Emma and Ron, or Emma’s passion for parties.
Ron understood Emma, and she him. He loved and cherished Emma, his family and his many dear friends. They lived a very full life, enjoyed cruises and taking their vessels on coastal cruises too. Ron fully enjoyed what he did and those who he met in his active days. He made the time to show up for everyone who reached out, providing caring, trustworthy, and sound counsel always. We will miss him and we are all feeling that loss right now.
Ron was a member of the Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, MAI, NAA, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, multiple Real Estate Councils, condominium associations, always staying active in the community.
Ron was predeceased by his parents, Parker and Katharine Wilkson and his Brother Tom Wilkson. He is survived by Irene “Emma” Abrahams, son’s James and wife Debbie, Daniel Wilkson, Grand Children Alyssa and Parker Wilkson, Nephew Matt Wilkson, Nieces Keli and Jennifer Wilkson, Emma’s Son, Ian Abrahams & wife Tina, children Olivia and Ava as well as, Emma’s daughter Fiona Abrahams.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent directly to Brain & Behavior Research Foundation | (bbrfoundation.org) or JDRF - Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes Research, Advocacy, and Support .
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday February 17, 2017 1PM at Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home, 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709.
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