The family lived in several places in Michigan. As a child in Michigan he enjoyed fishing, zoos, his mother singing and playing the piano, being outdoors, and airplanes. A highlight was when his father took him for a ride in a Wrigley Autogiro (identical to the one now in the Smithsonian Museum).
He and his brother, Gordon, moved to Winona Lake, Indiana, near Warsaw, after their father died and their mother was injured and traumatized from an auto accident. They lived with their grandmother and aunt most of the time but sometimes with other relatives. He really enjoyed his dog Kazan.
Soon after graduating from Warsaw High School in 1943 he enlisted in the Navy in Chicago, Illinois and trained at U.S. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. He became an aviation radioman and served on the USS Enterprise. He was honorably discharged on April 20, 1945. Among his recognitions were the Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
Following his military service he married and attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, studying pre-med. After college he lived again in Indiana for several years before moving to Denver, Colorado, where he was a freelance photographer and attended the University of Denver to further his medical education. While at National Jewish Hospital in Denver he worked with Drs. Dye, Middlebrook, Cohn, and Mitchell on the International Study Union of tuberculosis.
After several years in Colorado he moved to California where he pursued his education as a Specialist Microbiology, American Academy of Microbiology and worked on his doctorate. He had the wonderful opportunity of doing research in molecular physiology with Joshua Lederberg and Linus Pauling (both Nobel Prize recipients). He was appointed to the board of the National Registry of Microbiologists. Due to a conflict, that had no simple solution, between him and the physicians concerning biological specimens, he resigned his job and moved to Wisconsin where he worked in the health field in Madison.
He stayed a short time with his brother Gordon in Peru, Indiana before accepting the position of Clinical Microbiologist: Supervisor Department of Microbiology at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois where he worked until he retired from medicine in 1985.
Because of his love of airplanes and flying the skies were calling him upward, so at the age of 62 he set out to get his pilot’s license. On May 6, 1988 he fulfilled his dream and had his pilot’s license so he took advantage of any time he could be in the air. He got together with 8 other men with a desire to fly, formed a club, and purchased a plane to share. Then in March of 1992 he went with 15 others with 8 planes to participate in the 5.000 miles “1992 Yanks Downunder Flying Safari”.
He enjoyed his time with friends at the American Legion, ran his own limo service, traveled, researched genealogy, and visited friends at the airport until his health declined in recent years.
He is survived by his children: Royal Wilkinson of Chicago, Illinois, Ruth McCrary of Bourbonnais, Illinois, Sheryl Jewell of Indianapolis, Indiana, Linda McDaniel of Indianapolis, Indiana, Bradley Crates of Littleton, Colorado, Scott Crates of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Eric Crates of Madison, Wisconsin, 16 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Royal and Gwendolyn Crates, and his brother Dr. Gordon Crates.
Cremation rites were accorded. A Celebration of life was held November 3, 2015 at the main hangar of the Galesburg Municipal Airport. Visitation was held from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. Military rites were conducted by the VFW and Galesburg American Legion Ralph M. Noble Post 285 Honor Guard, Galesburg, Illinois. Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory in Knoxville, Illinois was in charge of arrangements. On-line condolences and sympathy cards may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
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