Richard Dennis Wilkins studied medicine at Oxford University and St Thomas's Hospital, London. He qualified MRCS in 1941 and FRCS in 1948. Returning to Canada he entered family practice while also doing some general surgery. He became consultant surgeon to the Marine General Hospital, Goderich, the Bruce County Hospital and the Walterton and Wingham District Hospital. He also held posts at the Wingham Medical Centre, Wingham, Ontario. He died on 14 April 1980, aged 64, survived by his wife Grace, daughter Denise and stepdaughters Marilyn Soanes, Hilary Bracken, Gabrielle Thompson and Anna Maria Bruce.