Retired Commander USN, Jay H. Wilkinson, 70, of 6 Grouse Wing Court, Biltmore Lake, NC, entered into rest at 12:02 A.M. Friday, December 30, 2011, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville, NC following a short illness. He was born November 23, 1941 in Waynesboro, PA. He was the son of the late John S. Wilkinson who was raised in Fayetteville, PA and Elinor (Perreida) Wilkinson who was raised in Hawaii. He lived his early life in Waynesboro. Mr. Wilkinson graduated from the Mercersburg Academy in 1959 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. He later received a Master's Degree in Telecommunications from George Washington University in Washington D.C. Mr. Wilkinson served in the United States Navy for 26 years. He graduated from the United States Naval Officers Cadet School in Newport, RI. While in the Navy he worked with the Naval Security Group. His last position was as the Commanding Officer of Naval Security Station in Washington DC. He retired from the Navy on March 1, 1990. Following his discharge from the Navy, he moved to Kailua, Hawaii and worked for the City and County of Honolulu as Superintendent of Enterprise Services. He retired in November of 2007. He and his wife, Karen, were married on December 6, 1986. They moved to Asheville in 2008. Mr. Wilkinson was of the Catholic faith and was a member of the former B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1191 of Waynesboro. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, John S. Wilkinson and wife Crystal, and Andrew F. Wilkinson and wife Stephanie, and grandchildren Caroline and Grant Wilkinson, all of Hagerstown, MD. He is also survived by three stepsons, Anthony Petriccione and wife Arline, and grandchildren Hailey, Jacob and Sydney Petriccione of Lake Mary, FL, Joseph Petriccione and wife Tracy of Atlanta, GA and Andrew Petriccione of Bradenton, FL. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, January 5, 2012 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 12 North Broad Street, Waynesboro with Rev. John Bateman as celebrant. Burial will follow the service at Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro with military honors by the Honor Guard of Charles Nitterhouse V.F.W. Post 1599 of Chambersburg. Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad Street, Waynesboro. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, 21 Belvedere Road, Ashville, NC 28813.