Basking Ridge - Edward J. Wilkes, age 54, passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Morristown Memorial Hospital. He was born in Wilkes Barre, Pa. and resided in Basking Ridge 16 years coming from West Orange. He owned and operated an auto repair facility, known as Auto Ed of West Orange for over 20 years. He was an avid golfer and skier and was a communicant of St. James Church, Basking Ridge. He is survived by his loving wife, Monica (Keenan) Wilkes; three loving children, Austin, Tyler and Vanessa; his loving parents Edward and Barbara Wilkes of Manchester, N.J., brother Jeffrey and sister-in-law, Jennifer Wilkes of Roselle Park, N.J. and Susan and Edward McMenamin of East Hamptonj,N.Y. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at St. James Church, 184 South Finley Ave., Basking Ridge at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and Friends are invited to attend the visitation at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge on Thursday December 2, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. and Friday December 3, 2010 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to Wilkes Education Fund, 11 Wayne Terrace, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. For more information please contact the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home at 908-766-0250.