Bennie B. Wilkins has spent 72 years in Summit, and his family wants the whole neighborhood to know it.
The longtime resident, who turned 95 on July 15, will be honored at a banquet Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crystal Sky Banquets in McCook. His four children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren are organizing the celebration.
Wilkins moved to Summit in 1954, fresh out of the Navy. He had served three years as an electrician and was honorably discharged that same year. He married Marguerite Jackson, a fellow Summit resident, and together they raised four children: Diann Wilkins-Smith, Charlette Wilkins-Davis, Tony Wilkins, and Bryan Wilkins, all graduates of Argo Community High School.
For decades, Wilkins worked at General Motors as a laborer before joining the U.S. Postal Service, where he started as a letter carrier and later became a supervisor of the electrical and maintenance departments. He retired in 1989.
After retirement, Wilkins and his wife took a cross-country road trip. Back home, he became known throughout Summit as the go-to handyman—fixing electrical problems, hanging doors, installing light fixtures and ceiling fans, and even rodding home sewers. He has also mentored his grandsons and their friends, teaching them how to maintain a home.
Today, Wilkins enjoys sports on television and time with family and friends.
Tickets are available through committee members organizing the event. Contact Diann Smith at 708-244-8508 or Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., pastor of Argo Temple Church of God in Christ, where Wilkins is a devoted member.