James Wilkinson, 88, a Mercer Island resident since 1960, died on March 17, 2009 at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, surrounded by his family. “Jim” was born on Sept. 15, 1920 in Chicago, Ill., to Frank Robert Wilkinson and Clara Wilkinson (Eiffert), and was the youngest of three children. Mr. Wilkinson grew up in Park Ridge, Ill., with his older brother, Frank Jr., and sister, June, and learned to fly airplanes in his teens. He went to the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, and was affectionately known as “Little Duke,” since his older brother was Duke of the University.

Mr. Wilkinson was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines after college in 1942. In January of 1946, he was drafted and served in the military as a flight instructor. After being honorably discharged, he returned to his employment at Northwest Orient Airlines. In the late 1940s, Mr. Wilkinson moved to Japan to help establish the first Northwest Orient Airlines base there, where he met his future wife, Patricia Landy. Mr. Wilkinson returned to the United States and settled down on Mercer Island, where he and Patricia were married on Dec. 20, 1960 at St. Monica Catholic Church. Mr. Wilkinson flew Asian Pacific routes for Northwest Airlines until he was 60 years old. He felt great pride in his long career as a pilot with Northwest Airlines, and he retired as a captain flying Boeing 747s.

Mr. Wilkinson was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Wilkinson, on Dec. 21, 2003. He is survived by his two children, Susan Ranney (Mark), of Mercer Island, and James R. Wilkinson (Marianne), of Redmond. Remembrances are suggested to the Fischer Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, www.alzinfo.org.

The family wishes to thank the many doctors, nurses and staff who contributed to Mr. Wilkinson’s care at the University House of Issaquah and Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.