Ermal Cale Wilkinson

Ermal Cale Wilkinson, Jr., 94 of Gainesville, FL died on November 22, 2023, at Haven Hospice after a lengthy decline due to dementia. He was born June 23, 1929, in Robinson, IL the son of Ermal Cale and Lydia Magdelena (Doll) Wilkinson. He graduated from New Harmony High School in 1947, obtained a BA from Indiana University in 1959, and then went on to graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1963. He began his professional career in Winchester, Indiana, where he opened his first office. In 1967, Ermal relocated to Bloomington, IN, practicing dentistry until 1975. Seeking warmer weather, he moved his family to Gainesville, FL, where he practiced until retiring in 2011 after 48 years of dentistry. Ermal was known for being an excellent clinician and cared deeply about his patients.

Ermal grew up in Stewartsville, IN with his large family consisting of two brothers and five sisters. He enjoyed antics with his friends and siblings. He played baseball and basketball in high school and loved to go dancing every Friday night “in town”. Ermal always had a love of aviation and one of his first jobs after high school was working for the airlines. He served his country during the Korean War as a PFC in the Finance Corps. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he resided in Kansas City where he met his wife, Marita, a farm-girl from Kansas who was there working for Platte Pipeline Company. As fate would have it, they both lived in the same boarding house. The first words in their long relationship were, “Can you please move the Post Toasties box so I can see the new boarder?” The rest is history!

Ermal married Marita Irene (Sharp) in 1954 at First Christian Church of Fredonia, KS. They had two daughters while he was in college and dental school followed by the birth of their son in Winchester, Indiana. Ermal was an avid Indiana Hoosier fan who loved to fish, golf and fly. He earned both his visual and instrument rated pilot’s license and owned several airplanes throughout his life. In retirement, Ermal volunteered at the University of Florida golf course as a ranger and worked on volunteer projects in association with First Christian Church of Gainesville where he was a member and sang in the choir.

Ermal is survived by Marita, wife of 69 years; daughters Diane (Ray) Biederman, Tallahassee; Debra Wilkinson, Gainesville; son, Douglas (Shannon Foley) Wilkinson, Gainesville; grandchildren, Joe (Andrea) Biederman, Jacksonville; Frank Alexander Douglas, Jr., Peabody, MA; Douglas Biederman, Orlando; and great-granddaughter Lily Biederman, Jacksonville.

Preceding him in death are his parents, brothers, William and John Wilkinson; sisters, Jean Eagleson, Helen Anderson, Mary Lee Nix, Phyllis Werry, and Nancy Johnson.

Interment of ashes will be at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Tallahassee, FL at a future date. Memorial contributions may be given to Haven Hospice Foundation, 4200 NW 90th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32606 or online at BeYourHaven.org/donate.

The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Haven Hospice who provided exceptional care to Ermal in the final days of his life.