Virginia 'Jinny' Wilkinson

Jinny Wilkinson passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of June 24, 2024, surrounded throughout the day by four generations of family and neighbors. 

She was born and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, near Lake of the Isles. She attended Kenwood Grade School and West High School; followed by the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1955. She married Bob Wilkinson in 1957, and they moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1960, where they instantly fell in love with the region’s natural beauty. They had three boys, Joe, Steve, and Jim. Jinny was a homemaker until her divorce in 1972. She raised her 3 boys by herself and sacrificed everything to make sure her kids were safe.

She taught Adult Basic Education at Portland Community College for five years, followed by a successful career in advertising for Nationwide Insurance until her retirement in 1999. She enjoyed retirement and was a very active member of Portland’s St Charles Church and the church choir. She was involved in many civic causes promoting social justice in the Hollywood Community and throughout Portland and proudly served as an election worker for Multnomah County until 2020. She was a well-known resident of the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood for 45 years. She made lasting friendships with many of her neighbors, including Sharon and Michael Kerns, who became lifelong friends and were considered a close part of her family. 

Jinny’s greatest joy was her kids, three grandchildren; James, Eric, and Cody, and one great-grandchild, Luca. She loved her entire family, including nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was well-known and loved for remembering birthdays and sending cards to friends, family, and distant relatives. She loved reading, watching historical documentaries, gardening, and walking throughout her neighborhood. She moved to Vancouver, WA to a retirement community in January of 2024, where she lived the rest of her life. 

Instead of flowers and gifts, remembrances can be made to Fruit and Flower Child Care or Union Gospel Mission.