WRAL Reporter Dan Wilkinson Dies

Dan Wilkinson

died Thursday night. He was 45.

Wilkinson spent 20 years reporting on farms in Eastern North Carolina. He is a native of Rocky Mount.

Wilkinson started his career in radio and, like his father, Ray, then moved over to television at WRAL.

He won awards for his agriculture reporting for his unique way of sharing farm news. He also gave back to the community, including being a long-time leader of the Boy Scouts.

"People tend to think of the people on the screen as celebrities, but Dan never made you feel that he thought he was more than you," said scouting executive Tom Dugger.

"He didn't look at himself as anything special at all. You always felt like you were the special one," said Johnny Glover, Wilkinson's friend.

"Dan was enthusiastic. He was positive," said Joe Knott, Wilkinson's Sunday school teacher. "He was happy. He was engaged. He was just a delightful person."

Dan died suddenly Thursday night at his home. He is survived by his parents, his wife, Babs, and two children, Daniel, 13, and Kaisey, 9.

A visitation will be held Sunday from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. The funeral will take place Monday at 2 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church on Glenwood Avenue.