Mr. James Noble Wilkins, Sr. age 88, of McMinnville, TN, died Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN. He was born August 16, 1934, in Dearborn, Michigan, was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War, and was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. Mr. Wilkins was preceded in death by his parents Willis and Leona Noble Wilkins, and all of his siblings.
He started his law enforcement career in 1957 in Detroit, Michigan, he graduated from the Border Control Academy, attended the Treasury Law Enforcement School, was a Customs Inspector, and a member of the DEA. He was part of the ground floor operations of EPIC – it was a small beginning with a select handful of personnel and has now grown to be a large conglomerate in El Paso, Texas. When he moved to McMinnville, he worked for the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, and was a translator for the Warren County Court House.
Jim is survived by his wife Katherine L. “Kaye” Wilkins, children Leslie Wilkins, Paula Jean (Harry) Hardman, Mary Elizabeth (Joe) Gonzolez, Particia Ann (Alex) Dominquez, James N. Wilkins II, and Rebecca Lynn Wilkins, grandchildren Kristen Jean, Brian, Shannon, Timothy, Joseph, Alex, Jamie Cat, and Jack.
Mr. Wilkins was cremated and a memorial celebration of his life will be held at St. Catherine’s and will be announced soon.
