Obituary: Wilkins, Robert F.
Age 82
Robert was born July 26, 1932 in New Salem, ND to Henry and Sophia Oestreich Wilkens.
He was the fifth child, with brothers Henry, Eugene, John, and sister Norma.
Bob attended New Salem High School where he played varsity basketball and baseball.
Upon graduation in 1950 he was awarded a basketball scholarship to Dickinson State Teacher’s College where he played basketball and tennis.
In his senior year, he and his partner won the North Dakota State Tennis Doubles Championship.
In October 2004, the tennis team was inducted into the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Bob graduated from Dickinson in 1954 with a BA in Education.
He married Vesta Koepplin from Elgin, ND in 1954.
Bob joined the US Army in 1954 and was stationed in La Rochelle, France.
He was honorably discharged in 1956.
Bob began his career in education teaching in North Dakota.
He and Vesta moved to Colorado in 1958 where he taught and worked as a Principal in the Denver area while earning his MA and PHD in Education from Colorado State Teachers College in Greeley.
Their daughter Cherie was born in 1956, daughter Shelly in 1960, and son Craig in 1964.
Bob moved his family to Spokane in 1968 where he began his 29 year career at Eastern Washington University.
He taught in the Department of Education and supervised teachers during their field experience.
Bob collaborated with Bruce Mitchell and Arnold Stueckle to author ‘The Dynamic Classroom’ published in 1969.
After the passing of his wife Vesta in 1981, Bob married Nancy Rodgers Pigman in 1984.
They celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in March of this year.
While married, Bob and Nancy enjoyed traveling including trips to Europe, the Bahamas, and Alaska.
Bob was a devoted husband and father, a member of Phi Delta Kappa Educators Honorary Society, an enthusiastic sports fan, and an avid gardener.
He is survived by his wife Nancy; son Craig; daughters Cherie Moisan and Shelly Howells and grandson Nathan Moisan.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 8, 2015 at 2 pm at Heritage Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Eastern Washington University, Department of Education, 312 Williamson Hall, Cheney, WA 99004.