- Date Of Birth: June 20, 1943
- Date Of Death: December 16, 2020
- State: Pennsylvania
Allan J. Wilkins, 77, of Bethlehem died December16 in St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Rita Plotnicki with whom he shared 35 years of marriage.
Born in Tyringham, England on June 20, 1943, he was the son of the late Albert E. and Daisy Joan (Davis).
He grew up in Burlington, N.J. and was a graduate of Burlington High School.
He had two careers. After graduating from Temple University, he worked as a sports reporter for the Trenton Times. He later was an editor for various newspapers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey including the Bethlehem Globe- Times. He also contributed editorial cartoons to The Bethlehem Press.
Following mid-career retraining at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked in information technology for several organizations and companies including Lehigh County, Lehigh University, Dunn & Bradstreet and Reeb Millwork.
He was a past member of the advisory council to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and also served on the board of directors of the former Radprin/WRSS, a radio reading service for the visually impaired.
A lifelong animal lover, he always had pets of his own. He also volunteered to walk dogs for his neighbors and made it a point to greet animals on the long walks and bike rides he enjoyed.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, the Rev. Tara Wilkins of Lake Oswego, Oregon; four grandchildren; Kristina Dowell of Gresham, Oregon, Nicole Button of Lake Oswego, Katie Heim, of Troutdale, Oregon, and CPO James Button of Virginia Beach, Va.; five great-grandchildren, Madison, Makaley, Lillyan, Grayson and Evan; a brother, Michael of Levittown, Pa. and a niece, Michelle of Columbus, New Jersey.
