Thomas Edward Wilks

Thomas Edward Wilks of Riverhead and formerly of Bridgehampton died on May 18 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. He was 67.

Born October 23, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the stepson of the late Thurman Davis and son of Mattie L. Davis.

Thomas Edward, as he was lovingly called by his family, was baptized and became a member of the Community Baptist Church in Southampton. He grew up in Wainscott and graduated with honors from East Hampton High School in 1961. In high school, Mr. Wilks was a member of the French Club and the Audio and Visual Aid Club and he operated the camera for many of the school plays. Mr. Wilks also played the drums in the school’s marching band.

As a young man, he entered the United States Marine Corps, beginning his military career as an electronics specialist. He moved up in rank very rapidly. After graduating from boot camp, he married his high school sweetheart, Vanessa A. Bullock, and the couple had two children.

After serving for 20 years in the Marine Corps, Mr. Wilks retired in 1981 as an E-8 master gunnery sergeant. His tours of duty took him and his family all across the states. San Diego, Barstow and Santa Ana, California; Cherry Point, North Carolina; and East Meadows, New York, are some of the many duty stations at which he served. Mr. Wilks also served two separate tours in Vietnam, in 1964 and 1973. He also served in Japan and, while there, he learned to speak a little Japanese. Family members said this week that Mr. Wilks, a proud Marine, would always say that “the Marines were tough.”

To keep in touch with fellow members of the armed forces, and in celebration of his patriotism and the Fourth of July, he served as the commander of the American Legion in Amagansett. He worked at the Hampton Classic Horse Show and at the Topping Farm.

In 1983, Mr. Wilks met Marie Wyche, his companion, and assisted her in raising her six children. He was a nurturing role model, adoring grandfather and caring brother to his two sisters Betty and Jeanette, survivors said. He was always there for them and was never so busy that he would say no. He was eager to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

Mr. Wilks is survived by a son, Thomas E. Wilks Jr.; a daughter, Valerie A. Wilks; two granddaughters, Lesha Outen and Elise Wilks, and his former wife, Vanessa Wilks, all of Virginia; two sisters, Betty Turner of Virginia and Jeanette Steward of Westhampton; a brother-in-law, Carlyle Turner of Virginia; a niece, Angela Davis of Eastport; four nephews, Dwayne Turner of Centereach, Wade Turner of Virginia, Terrell Turner of Virginia and Anthony Steward Jr. of Westhampton.

He is also survived by an uncle, Jake Price of Maryland; two aunts, Adelle Carter of Maryland and Willie-Mae Smith of Virginia; his longtime companion, Marie Wyche of Riverhead and her six children, Sean, Tabatha, Edward, Clarence, Precious and Talea Wyche; 11 grandchildren; and a host of cousins and friends.

The family received friends on May 22 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton, where a funeral service was conducted by Reverend Henry Faison Jr. Interment with military honors followed at Calverton National Cemetery.