Ex-judge Homer Wilkinson dies

Homer F. Wilkinson, a former state legislator and longtime judge, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, of causes incident to age.

Mr. Wilkinson, 82, was elected to serve on the bench for the state's 3rd District in 1979 when his opponent died during the campaign. He presided over the courtroom for more than 20 years before a new law required him to retire at age 75.

"He enjoyed being a judge the most of anything he did in his career," Mr. Wilkinson's son, Clark Wilkinson, said. "He was a big advocate of the legal system. He thought it was the best system in the world, but sometimes it wasn't used as well as it could have been."

Mr. Wilkinson was born in Cedar City in 1926 and moved to Salt Lake a few years later.

He was educated in Salt Lake, attending East High School and later earning his bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from the University of Utah.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Wilkinson served as a state representative for nearly a decade, holding such leadership positions as minority whip and judiciary committee chairman. He represented the Holladay-Millcreek area, where he lived up until the time of his death.

"He had done a lot in his life — a lot of good things," Clark Wilkinson said.

As a husband and father, Mr. Wilkinson raised five children. "He was a worker, and he taught us that work ethic," his son said. "He was firm, but kind and loving."

Mr. Wilkinson's health had deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks because of a medical condition.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, at noon in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Mount Olympus Stake Center, 4176 S. Adonis Drive (3930 East).