Larry David Wilkinson

Larry David Wilkinson, 78, of Kingsport, TN, peacefully passed away after a lengthy illness on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Larry was a lifelong resident of Kingsport and proud 1967 graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, he carried with him the kind of hometown roots that never really leave a person. His life was built here, among family, friends, familiar roads, old stories, and the community he loved. He was the kind of man people remembered, not only because of what he did, but because of how he made them feel. Around Larry, there was usually laughter, usually a story, and quite often a little bit of mischief.

He began his working years with Shankle and Boyle as a contractor, working directly alongside Ronnie Boyle, who became both a friend and mentor. Larry learned the value of hard work, honesty, and doing a job the right way. He later continued his career with Bonitz Company of Asheville, NC, where he worked until retiring at the age of 62. He took pride in his work, but work was never the whole of who Larry was.

His greatest pride was always found at home, with his family, where he not only held the title of "boss" and king of his castle, but made sure everyone knew it. Larry was the faithful controller of the thermostats, the television channels, and most anything else in the house that came with a button, knob, or remote. It was his kingdom, after all, and he ruled it in his own stubborn, humorous, unmistakably Larry way.

Larry was a devout Christian and a faithful member of Blessed Hope. His faith was not something loud or showy, but steady, sincere, and woven into the way he lived. It gave him strength through life's difficult seasons and shaped the love he had for those closest to him.

To know Larry was to know a man full of humor and life. He was a jokester, a prankster, and a cut-up in the best possible way. He could keep a room laughing with a quick comment, a sly grin, or one of those looks that let you know he was up to something. Larry was known to carry out pranks on his friends and neighbors, always with that mischievous spirit that made people shake their heads, laugh, and remember him all the more fondly.

Larry loved playing Hearts, but he especially loved a good game of Rook with his family. Those card games were never dull when Larry was at the table. Everyone knew to keep a close eye on him, because if there was even the smallest chance to sneak in a little cheat and get away with it, Larry was probably going to try. It was all part of the fun, and all part of the Larry everyone knew and loved.

He loved the simple pleasures of life. Good food, a good movie, a comfortable chair, and absolutely no unnecessary exercise. He was a big University of Tennessee fan, and when he had the opportunity, he loved to scuba dive. In his younger years, he played city ball with the City of Kingsport basketball league, but later in life, he seemed perfectly content to let other people do the running.

Larry also had a love for muscle cars and never had much interest in driving slowly including on his lawn mower. His 1957 Chevy and Dodge Charger were among his favorites, and his family will always smile remembering that his glove box was known to hold more speeding tickets than most people would care to admit. It was just part of Larry being Larry.

He was a man of strong opinions, and every one of them became part of the family lore. He was firmly opposed to sunscreen. He hated cucumbers with a passion. He refused to own or use a "smart" phone and stood faithfully by his flip phone, as if it were the last sensible piece of technology left in the world. Email was something he used only rarely and probably only when absolutely necessary. He had an aversion to the use of the dishwasher or a dryer in his home, preferring things done his own way, even if no one else fully understood why.

Larry was simple, modest, stubborn, funny, loyal, and deeply loved. He did not need fancy things to be happy. His joy was found in his home, his family, his four kitty cats, his jokes, his stories, and the life he built one ordinary, meaningful day at a time. He was the kind of man whose personality filled a house, whose laughter lingered in memory, and whose absence will be felt in all the little places where his presence once made life brighter.

To his family, Larry was more than a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and neighbor. He was their constant source of laughter, their strong-willed leader, their card-table troublemaker, their storyteller, and the king of his castle. His life was full of character, and so was he.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Doran Wilkinson.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Rebecca Wilkinson; daughters, Tonya Wilkinson, and Candice Schwartz and husband Dr. Eric Schwartz; son, Shawn Wilkinson; granddaughters, Amanda, Anna, Sarah, and Bella; brother, Chad Wilkinson and wife Tina; nephews, Connor and Caleb; special brother-in-law, Doug Prewett; lifetime best friend of 70 years, Jack Durham; and his four beloved kitty cats.

A graveside service will be announced at a later date.

Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home is honored to serve the Wilkinson family. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.trinitymemorialcenters.com.