THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

Leo Wilkes and P. Baughan's electrical store, Park Road.

A popular Bloxwich electrician has passed away suddenly at his place of business, P. Baughan Electrical Supplies in Park Road, Bloxwich.  Mr. Leo Wilkes was found dead at his workshop on Monday 1 June.  An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned earlier this week.  The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Leo, who was well-respected in the Bloxwich community and one of its longest-standing businessmen, started work at Baughan's on leaving school.  In 1987, when the business's founder Peter Baughan died, Mr. Wilkes took over.  Sixty-seven year old Mr. Wilkes' wife Diane has spoken of his kind-heartedness and generosity to the Bloxwich community.   Mrs Wilkes, aged 47, said “Leo was Bloxwich born and bred.  Everybody knew him. He was a good man, a father and husband.  He would go out of his way to help people for nothing in return. He had a heart of gold.”

The couple who have two children, daughter Tammy, aged 16, and son Jason, aged 22, were together for 23 years, having met at a suppliers where Mrs Wilkes had been working at the time.  In recent years they had toured the country to compete at championship dog shows with their Samoyed dog.  Leo was well known for decorating their home in Turnberry Road with 2,000 light bulbs at Christmas.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, High Street, at 1pm, followed by burial at North Walsall Cemetery.

The Bloxidge Tallygraph sends its sincere condolences and respects to Leo's family and friends at this sad time.  He will be greatly missed.

Original story courtesy Walsall Express & Star

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