Rev. Gilbert Van Buren Wilkes III
Rev. Gilbert Van Buren Wilkes III “Father Gil”, 76, of New Haven, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2014, at Yale New Haven. He was born June 18, 1938, in Charlotte, NC, to the late Gilbert Van Buren Jr. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Wilkes. Father Gil is survived by loving wife of 51 years, Pam (Caples) Wilkes and two children Gilbert Wilkes IV (Alicia) of Victoria, B.C. and Julia O’Connell (Sean) of Pittsburgh. Father Gil is also survived by four grandchildren, Lia Wilkes, Oran Wilkes, Violet O’Connell and Emmett O’Connell and one brother, Marshall Wilkes (Jane) of Mt. Pleasant, SC. He is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Lulu. Father Gil graduated from General William Moultrie High School in 1956 and was student council president his senior year. He served in the USMC reserves from 1955 to 1961 and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1961. He attended nuclear power training and submarine school. He served on the USS Halibut, USS Lewis & Clarke, and the USS Flying Fish. He was the first commanding officer of the USS Cincinnati from 1977 to 1981. He retired from the Navy 1986 as Commodore of ComSubRon TWO. He graduated from Yale Divinity School and was ordained to the deaconate and the priesthood in 1992. He served as curate at Bishop Seabury Church, Groton, CT and rector for 12 years at Christ and the Epiphany Church, East Haven, CT. He was rector of Christ Church Anglican in Branford, CT, for 5 years until he retired in 2013.
