Dr. Howard Wilkins

Dr. Howard Boykin Wilkins, age 91, beloved local ophthalmologist, passed away at his home in Hatton Point on Friday, April 9, 2021 with his loving family and friends at his side. Howard was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and was the son of the late Abbye Alexander Wilkins and James Arthur Wilkins. He grew up in Olde Towne where his family was in the coal and hardware business. Howard was named for his grandfathers, Henry Boykin Wilkins of Gates County, North Carolina, and John Howard Alexander of Baltimore, Maryland. Howard attended the University of Richmond and was a 1956 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia. He interned at Naval Hospital Bethesda and served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps while stationed in Bermuda and later Rota, Spain. After the Navy, he trained in ophthalmology in Sweden for one year and completed his residency at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago. He practiced ophthalmology in Portsmouth for many years and loved spending weekends at his Sandbridge cottage. He also loved to travel, especially enjoying his many trips to Brazil, Europe, and Egypt which he visited twice with his old friend, the late Dr. Emile Sayegh. Howard was a bon vivant, loved the finer things in life, enjoyed flying Air France and spending great times in Paris with friends and visitors, and living near the Eiffel Tower. He was very interested in photography, art, history, and model trains, especially of the European variety. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved sister Millicent Anne Carney and her long-time love, Rick Arrigo of Portsmouth; his best friend Jerry Meads of Pinehurst, NC, and Jerry's daughters Margaret Meads Nordlinger of New York City and Sandra Meads Turturro of Roswell, Georgia; John Chow of Paris; and a host of local friends. The family would like to thank good friends Jerry Langley, Danny Lee, Dr. Jerry Parsons, Debbie Baker, and caregiver Denise for their loving care during the last year of Howard's life. Loving Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Cremation and private burial service at a later date are planned.