Wilkinson was born March 23, 1919. He graduated from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, and then worked with the Canadian Sunday School Mission before becoming a Covenant pastor. In 1943, he married Gloria Storboro. He was ordained in 1956.
Wilkinson served in three different Covenant conferences, but never left Canada during his 40 years of ministry. He served Erickson Covenant Church in British Columbia while it was part of the North Pacific Conference; Fort Frances Covenant Church in Ontario while it was part of the Northwest Conference; along with several Canada conference churches.
He pastored the Erickson congregation from 1944-1949; Durban Covenant Church in Manitoba from 1949-1953; Camrose Covenant Church in Alberta from 1953-1959; Prince Albert Covenant Church in Saskatchewan from 1959-1961; Fort Frances from 1974-1984; and Nelson Covenant Church in British Columbia from 1974-1984.
His wife, Gloria, preceded him in death. Survivors include two sons: Terry Wilkinson, of Elmira, Ontario; and Donald Wilkinson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.