Gene Edward Wilkins

Gene E. Wilkins passed away peacefully at his home on November 17, 2018, at the age of 86. Gene was born on August 6, 1932, in New Palestine, Indiana to Lloyd and Nellie Wilkins. He attended New Palestine High School, and, as the first member of his family to attend college, went on to graduate from Indiana University and then The Indiana University School of Law. During his time at college and law school, he met and married his dear wife of 62 years, Patty Brown Wilkins. They moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where Gene was a Partner and Managing Partner with the law firm of Bamberger & Feibleman for 34 years. He finished his law career as a Senior Counsel at Ice Miller. For 13 years he also taught as an Adjunct Professor at the I.U. School of Law.

Gene was a past Chairman of the Young Lawyers sections of both the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He also served on the Marion County Judicial Nominating Commission, and as a member of the Board of the Indianapolis Local Improvement Bond Bank, which put together the financing for Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis.

He served as a board member or officer of many local civic organizations, including the Indianapolis Speech and Hearing Foundation, Inc., the Meridian Street Foundation, the Beethoven Foundation and the Governor’s Residence Commission.

Gene was honored to have been named a Sagamore of the Wabash by his friend Governor Frank O’Bannon. In 2015 he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Gene was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Indianapolis Art Center, the Board of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Board of Historic New Harmony and the Board of the Indianapolis Goodwill Industries Foundation. He served as an Elder at Fairview Presbyterian Church, where he was also an Assistant Organist. Gene took great pride in his involvement with the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, serving on the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees and as a past President of the museum.

Gene’s love of family and generous spirit were evident to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Brown Wilkins, whom he married on August 18, 1956; his children, Matthew E. Wilkins (Anne) and Nancy Wilkins Wynne (Gregory); grandchildren: Julia Wilkins, Grace Wilkins, Gregory Wynne (Maureen), Greer Bowker (Tim), Katherine Han (Oliver), Tucker Wynne (Steven Grile) and Emma Wynne; great-grandchildren: Kennedy Wynne and Timothy Bowker; one brother, Lowell Wilkins (Sondra); and his loyal caregivers: Shakeel Jacob, Tyler Allen, Deidra Robinson and Amie Compton.

Calling will be held from 4pm until 6pm on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Flanner Buchanan- Broad Ripple, 1305 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis. Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Fairview Presbyterian Church, 4609 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. Burial will be private in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gene’s memory to the: Wilkins Family Pavilion Fund at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-3326.