A celebration of life for James Austin Wilkinson, 93, of Fairview, OK., will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church, Fairview, Oklahoma. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Circle of Love Hospice (Enid), Fairview City Library, or the Major County Historical Society with the funeral home acting as custodians of the funds.

Hon. James Austin Wilkinson was born February 8, 1930 in Salem, OR, where his parents, Austin and Myrtle Wilkinson had traveled from Fairview to find work during the Great Depression and the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. Judge Wilkinson passed away in Enid, OK on May 5, 2023.

Judge Wilkinson (Jim, or as he liked to say, 'Just Jim') graduated from Fairview High School in 1948 and attended the University of Oklahoma on a track scholarship as a long-distance runner. After completing Army ROTC and obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1952, the U.S. Army commissioned him as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant and he served in the Korean War, earning the Korean Service Medal, Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Jim was honorably discharged as a 1 ^st Lieutenant and attended Oklahoma City University School of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 1958. His post-graduate studies included National Judicial College, American Academy of Judicial Education, and National College of Juvenile Justice. His legal career spanned over 60 years, with 16 years as a corporate and general practice attorney in New Mexico and Oklahoma and 20 years as the Associate District Judge in the Fourth Judicial District, Major County, OK. In 1994, Jim was assigned 'Active Retired' status by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and remained on call for several years past his retirement. He served in numerous capacities within the American Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association, including the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Trial Judges for 18 years. His was particularly interested in improving rural access to justice and worked on the Governor's Task Force on Judicial Improvements in Rural Areas, making presentations at Regional Rural Court Workshops in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Montana.

Jim was an integral part of the Fairview community, serving as a long-time member and President of the Lions Club International, active member and Director of the Major County Historical Society, Instructor at Northwest Technology Center, Fairview High School, and Northwest Oklahoma Police Academy, Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America (Great Salt Plains Council, Silver Beaver Award), County Chair of the Cherokee Strip Association, 'Bus Tour Guide' for Fairview, and pianist at Fairview First United Methodist Church. In 2021, the Fairview Chamber of Commerce honored Jim with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and he was designated as the Grand Marshal in the Chamber's 2022 Christmas parade. Jim poured his heart and abundant energy into his family, church, work, and community, seeming to never 'wind down'. He was an adventurer, gold prospector in Alaska, genealogist, athlete, OU football fan, horse lover, writer, storyteller, and history buff who knew all there was to know about Fairview. He loved the Fairview City Library and the staff who supported him in researching content for his books: Gloss Mountain Country: Major County Oklahoma, Volume 2 (Editor) and Early Day Schools of Major County, Oklahoma (author).

He is preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mary Jean Rigg Wilkinson, and is survived by three children Jamee (Brian) Goldstein, Sherry (Jim) Shaw, and Scott Wilkinson, eight grandchildren Brian (Leeana) Seidl, Kevin (Heather) Seidl, Ryan (Kelley) Willingham, Derek (Pamela) Willingham, Austin Shaw, Rachel ( José ) Zavala, Angela (Jonathan) Walden, and Sarah (Luke) Hayworth, and nine great grandchildren, Isabella Seidl, Gabriella Seidl, Madeline Seidl, Jeremiah Seidl, Katelyn Soard, McKenzie Seidl, Rose Willingham, Clark Willingham, and Julian Olivera.