Joseph Keating Wilkie
December 7, 1925 — July 11, 2007
Joseph Keating Wilkie
Joe, son of Helen Snow and Charles Wilkie, was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey and raised in Maine where he attended one of the nation's last remaining one-room school houses in Spruce Head.After graduating from Rockland High School, he served in the United States Navy during World War II and participated in the invasion of Normandy on the LST 61.He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, and the European African and Middle Eastern Medal.After his military service, he graduated from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and was employed by MIT Draper Labs where he developed technology for space exploration including the Apollo Lunar Missions.
Joe settled in Melrose, Massachusetts with his wife Marjorie and raised five children.He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Lieutenant Norman Prince VFW Post.Joe's favorite interests were music, science, nature and cars, but he will be most remembered for his genuine kindness toward others.Joe loved life.But more notably, he loved learning about everything in life.His persistent curiosity and passion for knowledge made him a remarkable man who truly grew throughout his entire life.When people remember Joe they will recall that he was the kindest person they had ever met.
Joe was very proud of his heritage.He is a twelfth generation descendant of Nicholas Snow and Constance Hopkins, who arrived on the Mayflower.His mother was Helen Rowe Snow and his grandfather, Capt. Richard Keating Snow, was both a clipper ship captain and the owner of the Snow Shipyard in Rockland.
Joe is survived by his five children: son David Wilkie of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, son Richard and Liz (Hardy) Wilkie of Groton, son James and Carol (Field) Wilkie of Melrose, daughter Susan and Moss Kearney of Wilbraham and daughter Claire and her recently deceased husband Barry Durkin of Lynnfield.Joe's legacy is carried forward by his 10 grandchildren: Jacquelyn, Jillian, Jonathan, Erin, James and Nathaniel Wilkie; Jeffrey Durkin, as well as Meredith, Liam and Conor Kearney.He is also survived by his brother and Alan and June Wilkie of Bath, Maine; three step-sisters: Genesta Vigue-Pouliot, Barbara Vigue Burns, and Gabriel Stanley-Lewis. Joe also leaves his sister-in-law Frances Mannix of Boston, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
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