- Date Of Birth: May 12, 1932
- Date Of Death: August 9, 2015
- State: Maine
Albert Warren Wilkes, Sr.
“Sgt. Nice”
1932 – 2015
South Portland
Albert Warren Wilkes, Sr., 83, of South Portland died on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
He was born on May 12, 1932 in Portland, ME the son of Warren and Dot (McLean) Wilkes. Albert attended South Portland Schools until almost 16 years old when he found out that he knew more than the teachers. At that time, he enlisted into the US. Army and served at Fort Monmouth, NJ and was discharged as a Private First Class. He joined the US Navy in 1950 and was a landing craft Coxwains on the US Mountrail APA 213 (The Mule Train). While on the ship, it earned Three Battle Stars in Korea. Albert was awarded the China Sea Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Sea Medal, United Nations Medal, a Korean Presidential Citation and the Korean 50th Anniversary Medal.
After his time in the military, Albert worked for the Maine Central Railroad until 1959. On June 25, 1954, he married Ilene M. McDonald. In 1960, he joined the South Portland Police Department. In 1961, he started the first police scuba team. He was also a firearms instructor and S.W.A.T. team leader, and was promoted to the rank of Sargent in 1974. He also served as a body guard to Elvis Presley, and before his retirement in 1984 he was offered a job by the Secret Service to help guard Vice President George Bush. Albert was a member of the Maine Association of Retired Policemen, a life member of the VFW Post 832 and a life member of the D.A.V. Chapter ME3.
During his retirement, he enjoyed trips to Navy Reunions and Florida occasionally working for security companies.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Raymond.
Surviving family members are his wife, Ilene, sons, Scott, Al Jr. and Stephen all of South Portland and grandchildren, Tanya Maria Wilkes and Shane W. Wilkes.
