Joseph W. Wilkerson - House Springs, MO Joseph W. Wilkerson, 84, of House Springs, Mo, died at 11:43 a. m. Sunday, February 16, 2014. Mr. Wilkerson was born on October 28, 1929, in Benton, IL the son of Arlie Newton "Mooch" Wilkerson and Nancy "Beotta" (Evans) Wilkerson. He married the former M. Gail Hill on September 12, 1959. Joseph was a retired Inspector at McDonnell Douglas where he worked for more than 30 years on military aircraft and the companys space program. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his son, John (Susan Whitney) Wilkerson of College Park, MD, a daughter, Kimberly Kay Valdez, of Anaheim, CA, four grandchildren, Phoebe Nishimoto, Sgt. Maxwell Nishimoto, Hannah Nishimoto & Ginger Wilkerson, one sister, Maxine Wilkerson Scheibe, of St. Louis, MO, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Wilkerson was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, three brothers, Curtis Dean Wilkerson, Paul Edward Wilkerson and Arlie Evans Wilkerson and three sisters, Mary June Wilkerson, Alice Ogden and Shirley May Wilkerson. Visitation will be from 12:00 p. m. to 2:00 p. m. Friday, February 21, 2014, at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Benton. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. David Seaton officiating. Burial will be in the Franklin Cemetery, Whittington, IL, with military rites performed by the Benton American Legion and V.F.W. and the Marion National Guard Honor Squad.