Wilkins III, Charles L.

Charles L. Wilkins III

Columbus, Ohio

Feather Location: Row I, #09

Associated Press

…Charles Wilkins enlisted in the Air Force right after graduating from Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus. He also attended St. Charles Preparatory School in Bexley for three years, and played football at both schools.

Charles Wilkins joined the National Guard after getting out of the Air Force because he wanted to be an officer, said Lorin Wilkins, of Columbus.

Even with his hectic schedule — Wilkins worked as a transportation planner, and attended law school at Capital University in addition to his military obligations — he always had time to take care of his family.

“He made sure everybody was taken care of. Even with his busy schedule, if you called him and need something, he’d be there,” Lorin Wilkins said.

“But even when he was gone, he made sure the family was taken care of and provided for. He sent money back home. If he couldn’t be here, he made sure things were taken care of and we had money to take care of things if he couldn’t take care of them himself,” she said.

Charles Wilkins had to quit law school a few times, his sister said.

“The military came first and he’d have to quit school or whatever. He’d take it with a grain of salt and start over and do his year over,” she said…

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