Obituary
GGeorgalyn Claire Browne Wilkinson was born at home in the parsonage on August 18,1935 in Harrison Ohio to Hann and Marvel Browne. She was followed by three sisters Carolyn, Linda and Joy. Most of her childhood was spent all over the eastern United States as their father was a Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor until he became a missionary with the Far East Broadcasting Company (F.E.B.C.) and was stationed at Christian Radio City Manila. Georgalyn accompanied them and lived on the compound in the Philippines. In 1958, she graduated from Bob Jones University in the U.S.A., and married David Wilkinson. Shortly after, they too joined the Far East Broadcasting Company and spent the next four years in Okinawa. They were then transferred to Japan where David was Director of the field until 1971 when, after a very short illness, he was taken home to be with the Lord.
Having worked with David for 13 years, Japan was home to Georgalyn and her two young daughters. She succeeded David as Field Director of Japan, and continued there for eight years until a qualified Japanese national was found and trained for the ministry.
In that same year, 1979, she was assigned to the Home Office of F.E.B.C. in La Mirada, California where she served as Director of Outreach through 1985. Her responsibilities were extensive and included Public Relations, Fund Raising and Media, Extension Ministries, Constituency Relations and Direct Mail. She often represented F.E.B.C in retreats, conferences, banquets, and churches.
In Tokyo, Japan, Georgalyn was one of the few female foreign correspondents and a member of the prestigious Foreign Press Association. For six years she was chairman of the Tokyo Christian Women's Club. She has served on numerous national and international boards. She was also a member of the National Female Executives Association and is listed in the American Society of Professional and Executive Women. She was one of the writers of the Woman's Study Bible, published by Thomas Nelson.
Georgalyn became GLINT's President in 1986. Having served with F.E.B.C. for 27 years, she was not seeking a new ministry. However, when the opportunity to consider GLINT was presented to her, she made it a matter of much prayer and soul searching. Perhaps like a pastor called to a new church, she graciously accepted the call to leadership with the worldwide ministry of Gospel Literature International.
Georgalyn Wilkinson provided dedicated, capable leadership in an ever-expanding international program for translating Sunday school curriculum, Bible study materials, and quality Christian books into the major languages of the world. Her excitement about this ministry was evident and contagious.
On May 24, 1997, the board of Trustees of Biola University awarded Georgalyn the prestigious honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her clear evangelical testimony, the outstanding quality of her life, and her lifetime of achievements.
Georgalyn was a gifted speaker and related to any audience out of her vast experience as a missionary, as a wife, as a widow, as a single parent and as a woman in leadership. She knew the joys, sorrows, frustrations and satisfactions of a committed Christian life and spoke from experience about serving Christ and His Church.
Georgalyn moved to the Redlands Ca area in 2016 to a beautiful retirement community and to be closer to family. She continued to work for GLINT mostly from home and was a true blessing to those around her up until she drew her last breath. God was truly her mainstay and first love. She was faithful in blessing others and praying fervently for all those in her path.
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So many friends and family have gone on to heaven before her but there are some who are still here that know they will see her again when she is the one welcoming them home!
Daughters: Barra (& Paul) Franklin and Janel (& Adrian) Doll
Grandchildren: Shane (& Tiffany) Franklin, Jake (& Bridgett) Franklin, David Doll and Claira Doll
Great Grandchildren: Lucille, Daxton & Bruce Franklin
Sisters: Linda (& Bill) Grant and Joy (& Wyatt) Voyles
So many nieces and Nephews who loved her so much.
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THANK YOU for your friendship and love and prayers for me and Christian, of which I could always be sure.
I will remember you so fondly, your magical, sweet, cheerful, humorous and often ‘out of line’ nature,
Your clear business acumen, your goal-orientation, you were a visionary with all your heart, and you lived out of a deep and precious relationship with Jesus.
Dear family of Georgalyn,
I would like to express my deepest sympathy and condolences on the passing of your dear mum. Letting your own mother go has its own dimension and is something very special and unique.
Thank you for letting me know that she has now arrived home, in our homeland, that she is with God, with Jesus.
We, my husband Christian and me, met Georgalyn at the Frankfurt Book Fair. We had a small publishing company for Christian literature at the time (Projection J Publishing), and worked with GLINT, and when we met Georgalyn, we both felt that this woman was more than just a business relationship, we were both ‘shockingly in love’ with this enchanting woman. We worked together for many years, but the connection between us went beyond that. We loved her, and every year at the Buchmeses we were happy to see her again. Her hairstyle made a big impression on me... We were in our early 20s, and on the one side she was a wonderful and fair business partner, and on the other side a friendship grew, and because of the age difference, we felt also behind a little maternal touch, we never spoke about … :-) My husband Christian died and went home in 2022 at the age of 58 years after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, Georgalyn had a special connection to him. I am sure, it's a big party in heaven now.
There are people we carry in our hearts, even if in the Here and Now we no longer share common points and spaces in our lives - Georgalyn was definitely one of them for us, for me. These are the friends God gives to our side giving space, life, love and create out of this such a richness, the bigger picture.
Thank you for your so apt and beautifully chosen words in the email you sent, they comfort me so much.
All the very best to you, may our Lord keep you and bless you and hold you all close to his heart and carry you all very deep and special in his love and peace through this time of loss and sadness.
Even we know that she has arrived home, our human answer is sadness and missing, and that is such an appropriate and good response, because we are lovers.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your Community in remembering Georgalyn,
Warm greetings from Berlin, Claudia Anna
She attended many Bible Study nights and events at their home . They supported her ministry at Glint for over 30 years and considered her a dear friend. Georgalyn was a gifted leader and her love for Jesus was an example to all! She was surely greeted with the words “well done ! Good & Faithful Servant “ when she entered Heaven’s Gate!
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