James Wilkas

Naugatuck-James Albert Wilkas, 77 of 213 Melbourne Street, husband of Eleanor (Mangine) Wilkas, died at St. Mary's Hospital on November 15, 2009 after a long illness.

Mr. Wilkas was born on June 5, 1932 in Naugatuck a son of the late James August and Julia (Butkus) Wilkas. He was a retired engineer for Anamet-American Brass were he had worked for 37 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police during the Korean War. He was a member of the CT Nutmeg Flyers Club, an avid model airplane builder, expert woodworker, master mechanic, a musician, a regular jack of all trades and a Scrabble champion. He was a communicant of St. Francis Church.

Besides his wife of Naugatuck he is survived by two daughters, Sandra Hill and her husband Thomas A. Hill, III of Watertown and Marilee Wilkas and her fiance Christopher Ciarlo of Waterbury, two sons, Thomas J. Wilkas of New Preston and James Alan Wilkas and his wife Maureen of Thomaston, one grandson, Daniel J. Wilkas, E-3 U.S. Air Force . One sister, Constance Allen of Lake Worth, FL., and several nieces and nephews.

A military funeral will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. from the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave, Naugatuck to St. Francis Church, 318 Church St, Naugatuck for a mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude 's Children's Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program/ 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105

For online condolences please log on to: www.buckmillerbrohters.com