Winston "Win" Wilkinson

Winston A. “Win” Wilkinson, Ph.D., age 70, of East Lansing, passed away Monday, October 31, 2011 in Lansing.  He was born April 30, 1941 in Fremont, Michigan to Charles and Evelyn (Arendsen) Wilkinson.

Win was a professor of philosophy at Michigan State University for 37 years, a tough but endearing teacher.  He was funny, kind and thoughtful, whose answer to every philosophical question began “yes” and “no.” He was a poet and a world traveler.

Win is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carolyn White; nieces, Torri (Michael Chandler) Wilkinson, and Regina (Ed Halley) Wilkinson Halley; and a grandniece, Jaime Halley. He was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Frede, and a brother, Jim Wilkinson.

A gathering will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, November 13, 2011 at LookOut! Gallery, located in Snyder-Phillips Hall on the MSU campus. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

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7 Messages to “Winston "Win" Wilkinson

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Rick Corbett
November 2, 2011 at 7:09 pm

I am so sorry for your loss! I work for spectran and had the pleasure of Mr Wilkinsons company on many rides! He always had a way to brighten your day. He will be missed!

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patty conway
November 3, 2011 at 12:05 pm

All of us with Spec-Tran are saddened with your loss. He was a favorite among all our drivers. I, especially loved discussing books with him. We will all miss him.

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Steve Parks
November 3, 2011 at 8:57 pm

I worked at the Michigan Athletice Club and was always glad to see Win. He always inquired about my mother and we had many discussions on all sorts of topics. He will be missed.

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David McFarlane
November 13, 2011 at 9:23 am

I enjoyed every time I talked with Win, and would have liked more. He was always full of good cheer, and good for an insightful word.

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Mark Brown
December 1, 2011 at 3:34 pm

Win and I were graduate students together. I found him always a kind and gentle soul but a rigorous philosopher. It is very sad to hear of his passing.

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Jim Heim
April 15, 2014 at 2:17 pm

I took every class I could with Win while a graduate student at MSU in the late ’80s/early ’90s. He was my absolute favorite professor. I could always plob down on a chair near his desk and talk philosophy. Great guy, great teacher.

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David Courtney
September 2, 2022 at 8:07 pm

Win was my Ph.D. mentor and guide. I became a tenured professor for 25 years due to his guidance. I miss him terribly. I am his Dantes to his Abbe. He told me his favorite novel was The Count of Monte Christo (Dumas). I owed it to him to read this work. I finally am doing so at this writing. His being is carried forward in his students and their students. His transcendence is absolute.

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